In Belgium the use of handcuffs by police officers is entirely
forbidden. Prisoners are handcuffed only on being brought before the
_Juge d'Instruction_ or _Procureur du Roi_, and when crossing from court
to court. Women are never handcuffed in England, but on the Continent it
is not an uncommon occurrence.

Regarding handcuffs generally, in my opinion not one of the inventions I
have mentioned now in use is sufficiently easy of application. What
every officer in the detective force feels he wants is a light, portable
instrument by means of which he can unaided secure his man, however
cunning and however powerful he may be. I myself suggest an application
which would grip the criminal tightly across the back, imprisoning the
arms just above the elbow joints. Such an instrument would cause him no
unnecessary pain, while relieving officers from that part of their duty
which is particularly obnoxious to them, viz., having a prolonged
struggle with low and savage ruffians.

I cannot refrain from relating a piquant little anecdote told to me by a
French colleague, who had occasion to make an arrest, and came
unexpectedly on his man. Unfortunately he was unprovided with handcuffs
and was somewhat at a disadvantage, but being a quick-witted fellow, he
bethought himself of an effectual expedient. Taking out his knife he
severed the prisoner's buttons which were attached to his braces, thus
giving the man occupation for his hands and preventing a rapid flight. I
am indebted to M. Goron, Chief of the Detective Department in Paris, and
other colleagues for some of the specimens here reproduced by me.

* * * * *