Coercive measures like mechanical restraint (MR) are widely used in psychiatry but may collide with bioethical autonomy principles, damage those involved, and harm patient–staff relations. Reductions in usage are desirable and addressing illegitimate MR would be an obvious starting point. As one important reason for instigating MR is dangerous patient behavior this attracts special attention. In this complaints audit the role of threats, violence, and contextual characteristics was examined in decisions concerning MR completed by the Danish Psychiatric Patient Complaint Board system from 2007 to 2014. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details for full text.