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Hand cuffs are probably one of the few security gadgets that have never run out of fashion. History records have indicated that the reliable double-loop gadget have been used as early as fourth century B.C. to restrain prisoners. Now more than two thousand years later, they are still widely prevalent and heavily used in law enforcement and the military.
With rapid advancement in technology, crime fighting has adopted new methods and approaches since the turn of the century. Old ways of investigation are made redundant and replaced by new ways using digital technology and the latest innovation. DNA testing, psychology profiling and forensic advancements have changed the way police officers track and catch those who break the law today. But despite the profound developments that have taken place in law enforcement and military services through the years, the good old reliable hand cuffs have prevailed through the times.
Relevance of Hand Cuffs
The most fundamental component of the handcuff is its design. The double loops connected together with a hinge or chain has been the most effective and reliable design ever crafted to successfully restrain and limit the movements of a strong, willful person. The two loops can be wrung around the wrists of a person, locking them together and thus restricting movement of the person’s hands. To date, no other device or gear has been invented that can perform the function of a handcuff. It is light, handy and strong enough to restrain a strong individual while at the same time providing slight flexibility of movement.
Hand cuffs are Powerful Duty Gears
Once the ratchets snap in place, the handcuffed prisoner is captured and overpowered. It is the duty gear that exudes an air of power, control and authority. They are made from solid metal such as stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum or synthetic polymer, which are adequately sturdy materials to withstand a strong man’s resistance. Once locked in, a person, be it an aggravated patient in a mental hospital or a suspected bank robber caught in a chase, is subdued and subjected to the authority of the person who holds the key.
Variety of Hand cuffs
Even though they have been used for so many centuries, hand cuffs today certainly come in more shapes, sizes, colors, designs and features. Some have double locks that prevent further tightening of the loops after they have been locked, as some criminals are fond of distracting police officers and tricking them into readjusting the loops so that they can make their moves to escape. Some come in different sizes fit for juvenile offenders as well as oversized men. Some have different colors to help officers visually distinguish the cuff gate from the rest of the loop so that they can react faster if the gate is detached. Plastic cuffs are also available for riot situations when many people need to be restrained at the same time as well as on airlines when a passenger gets disruptive or violent.
The symbol of the handcuff has been long been associated with authoritarian power. Even though it is small piece of metal, it has an overwhelming presence that associates with the power relationship between the strong versus the weak and the captor versus the captive.
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