The manual is structured into chapters that dictate specific field maneuvers and use-of-force protocols: Crowd Dispersal (Chapter 25)
: It is issued jointly by the Royal Malaysian Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense.
Formed baton charges designed to disperse stubborn crowds rapidly. 3. Equipment Standardisation public order manual poman 1971
The resulting document, known as the Public Order Manual (POMAN) 1971, was designed to provide a framework for police and other authorities to manage public gatherings, protests, and demonstrations in a peaceful and proportionate manner. The manual emphasized the importance of balancing the right to free speech and assembly with the need to maintain public safety and order.
The Public Order Manual, commonly referred to as POMAN 1971, is a manual published by the Metropolitan Police Service in 1971. Its primary purpose was to provide guidance to police officers on managing public order situations, particularly those involving large crowds, protests, and demonstrations. The manual is structured into chapters that dictate
: It provided a uniform, nationwide procedure for police, reducing ad-hoc decision-making in high-tension situations.
The manual insisted that police cannot wait for the protest to start. It advocated for "legal surveillance"—photographing activists at legal rallies, mapping out protest group hierarchies, and identifying "agitators" before they reached the cordon. This section gave legal cover to what later became known as political intelligence units. Its primary purpose was to provide guidance to
Cordons and containment lines (which later evolved into controversial tactics like "kettling").
The is a foundational administrative document historically used by police forces—most notably in the Philippines—to guide the planning, management, and deployment of personnel during public assemblies, demonstrations, and civil disturbances. Drafted in a period of significant political upheaval, POMAN 1971 provides the doctrinal framework for how state forces maintain peace and order while respecting the rights of citizens to assemble.