WEAPONS SUCH AS KNIVES AND STICKS IN THE POSSESSION OF CRIMINALS INCREASE THE HAZARDS TO UNARMED BRITISH POLICE MAKING ARRESTS. POLICE POLICY, HOWEVER, DICTATES THAT ARRESTS MUST NOT USE MORE FORCE THAN IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED TO EFFECT THE ARREST. AN EFFECTIVE, NONESCALATING TECHNIQUE FOR ARRESTS INVOLVES THE PROPER TRAINING AND USE OF POLICE STICKS. MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE SHORT TRUNCHEON, THE STICK PROVIDES THE OFFICER WITH THE CAPABILITY OF SUBDUING AN AGGRESSOR, WITHOUT PLACING THE OFFICER IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. A STICK SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS LONG AS ITS USER'S FOREARM, WHICH INCREASES ITS VERSATILITY AS A BLOCKING INSTRUMENT. THE 16 1/2 INCH JAPANESE WEAPON, WHICH FOLDS INTO A 6 1/2 INCH TUBE, IS CONSIDERED EFFECTIVE AND IS EASILY CONCEALED. THE LARGER AMERICAN BATONS AND CONTACT WEAPONS ARE SIMILARLY EFFECTIVE, BUT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE TRAINING TO PREVENT INJURY TO OFFENDERS. POLICE TRAINING MUST EMPHASIZE THE DETERRENT VALUE OF SUCH DEVICES, YET DISCOURAGE THEIR DISPLAY WHEN A SHOW OF FORCE WOULD INTENSIFY THE EMOTIONS OF A CONFRONTATION. THE STICK SHOULD BE USED ONLY AS A BACKUP WEAPON, WHEN EMPTY HANDED ARREST HAS ALREADY FAILED, OR WHEN THE SUSPECT IS ARMED. ILLUSTRATIONS OF WEAPONS AND THEIR PROPER USE ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)