Abbotsford Police Become First in Canada to Deploy BolaWrap, a Remote Non-Lethal Restraint Tool

The Abbotsford Police Department has become the first in Canada to deploy the BolaWrap, a new non-lethal restraint device designed to help officers control situations without causing injury.

Resembling a bright yellow remote control, the BolaWrap fires a barbed tether that wraps around a person’s limbs or torso, immobilizing them from several metres away. Police say it’s especially useful when someone is walking away and needs to be stopped, offering an alternative to tools that rely on pain to gain compliance.

“It provides another option for officers when intervening with potentially volatile subjects, while at the same time decreasing the injury potential to the subject,” said Const. Alex Odintsov, who oversaw the device’s approval process in B.C.

The department conducted a 10-month field trial, submitting deployment data to a provincial stakeholder panel, which cleared the device for use under provincial policing standards. During the trial, the BolaWrap was used more than a dozen times, with no injuries reported and successful apprehensions in each case.

When deployed, the device emits a loud bang designed to startle the individual, giving officers a brief window to close the distance.
“It’s loud on deployment, so that startling effect gives officers that reactionary time,” Odintsov said.

Manufactured by U.S.-based Wrap Technologies and marketed as “remote handcuffs,” each BolaWrap unit costs about $2,000, with single-use cassettes priced between $55 and $70. Abbotsford police have purchased six units so far from their operating budget.

Officers are trained to assess when the device is appropriate, factoring in the subject’s clothing and behaviour. The BolaWrap works best on clothing like pants; if it contacts bare skin, the barbs could penetrate.

While the manufacturer claims an 80 per cent field success rate, the device has faced mixed reviews. In Seattle, police reportedly discontinued its use in 2023 after limited deployments. Odintsov acknowledged the criticism but emphasized that no single tool fits every scenario.
“It’s not meant to replace Tasers, batons or beanbag shotguns—it’s about giving officers more options,” he said.

Abbotsford police plan to monitor the BolaWrap’s effectiveness over the next year before deciding whether to purchase more units.