Montreal police announced a new directive on Sept 18, 2026, ordering officers to discontinue the hog‑tie restraint technique. The decision follows a coroner’s finding that the method likely contributed to the death of a man in police custody.
The coroner’s report concluded that the positioning of the individual’s arms and legs behind the back, combined with prolonged restraint, was a significant factor in the fatal outcome. The report did not attribute the death solely to the technique, but indicated it played a contributory role.
Under the new directive, officers are instructed to use alternative, less restrictive methods when securing suspects. Training materials will be updated, and supervisors will monitor compliance. The police department said the change is intended to align practice with current safety standards and to reduce the risk of injury or death.
The hog‑tie method has been the subject of criticism in Montreal and elsewhere after earlier cases linked the technique to fatalities. Advocacy groups and legal observers have called for its removal from police protocols for years. The recent coroner’s finding adds official weight to those concerns.
Police leadership noted that the directive does not affect other legitimate restraint tools and that officers will continue to be equipped to manage violent or non‑compliant individuals safely. The department plans to review other use‑of‑force policies in the coming months.
The change comes as part of a broader effort to improve accountability and public trust in law‑enforcement practices across Quebec. No further deaths related to the hog‑tie have been reported since the earlier incidents.