Critical care nurses in the United Kingdom have become increasingly concerned about the use, potential abuse and risks associated with physical restraint of patients. Restraint in critical care is not only confined to physical restraint but can also encompass chemical and psychological methods. There are concerns regarding the legal and ethical issues relating to the (ab)use of physical restraint techniques in critical care. The aim of this article was to present the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) position statement on the use of restraint in adult critical care units and to provide supporting evidence to assist clinical staff in managing this process.