UOF
Government & Politics abbreviation · Police
| Stands for | Use of force |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
UOF stands for Use of force, a police abbreviation.
Any physical action police take to control a person, from handcuffing and takedowns to Tasers, batons and firearms. Officers must file UOF reports, and policies define when each level of force is permitted.
Example: Every UOF report is reviewed by a sergeant and then by the professional standards unit.
Usage notes
Constitutional limits come from Graham v. Connor (1989), which judges force by what a reasonable officer would do in the situation. Many agencies have adopted de-escalation requirements and duty-to-intervene policies, especially after 2020. Use-of-force data is collected by the FBI through a voluntary national program.
Related abbreviations
More police abbreviations
- ABH – Actual bodily harm
- AFIS – Automated Fingerprint Identification System
- ALPR – Automated license plate reader
- ANPR – Automatic number plate recognition
- APB – All-points bulletin
- ASBO – Anti-social behaviour order
- ATL – Attempt to locate
- B&E – Breaking and entering
- BAC – Blood alcohol concentration
- BOLO – Be on the lookout
- BWC – Body-worn camera
- CCW – Carry concealed weapon