What does 'physical force' mean?

[joham]

What does 'physical force' mean in the sentence below? Corporal punishment? Power, violence or pressure? Or anything?


You had given instructions that physical force should if necessary be used. (This sentence comes from COLLINS COBUILD ENGLISH USAGE.)

 

[emsr2d2]

It means that the person is given the authority to actually touch someone. In many professions, staff are not allowed to make physical contact with customers unless they have been given specific authority to do so. If this authority is not given, they must rely on their verbal skills to convince someone to do something.