A circuit interruption device (20,120,220) comprising: first and second terminals (22,24) for connection, in use, to a respective electrical circuit or network; a current-conductive branch including first, second and third current-conductive branch portions successively connected in series between the first and second terminals (22,24), the first current-conductive branch portion including a first switching element, the second current-conductive branch portion including a second switching element, wherein the second switching element is a mechanical switching element, the third current-conductive branch portion including a third switching element, each switching element (36,38,40) configured to be switchable to selectively permit and block a flow of current in the respective current-conductive branch portion; first and second current bypass paths (28,30), the first current bypass path connected across the first and second current-conductive branch portions, the second current bypass path connected across the second and third current-conductive branch portions; and a controller configured to selectively control the switching of the switching elements (36,38,40) to control a flow of current between the first and second terminals (22,24) so that: (i) in a first mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is permitted to flow through the first, second and third current-conductive branch portions and is blocked from flowing through the current bypass paths (28,30); and (ii) in a second mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is blocked from flowing through the first and third current-conductive branch portions and is permitted to flow through the current bypass paths (28,30) so as to reverse a direction of current flowing through the second current-conductive branch portion, wherein the second switching element is opened before the first and third switching elements (36,40) are opened in the second mode of operation. first and second terminals (22,24) for connection, in use, to a respective electrical circuit or network; a current-conductive branch including first, second and third current-conductive branch portions successively connected in series between the first and second terminals (22,24), the first current-conductive branch portion including a first switching element, the second current-conductive branch portion including a second switching element, wherein the second switching element is a mechanical switching element, the third current-conductive branch portion including a third switching element, each switching element (36,38,40) configured to be switchable to selectively permit and block a flow of current in the respective current-conductive branch portion; first and second current bypass paths (28,30), the first current bypass path connected across the first and second current-conductive branch portions, the second current bypass path connected across the second and third current-conductive branch portions; and a controller configured to selectively control the switching of the switching elements (36,38,40) to control a flow of current between the first and second terminals (22,24) so that: (i) in a first mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is permitted to flow through the first, second and third current-conductive branch portions and is blocked from flowing through the current bypass paths (28,30); and (ii) in a second mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is blocked from flowing through the first and third current-conductive branch portions and is permitted to flow through the current bypass paths (28,30) so as to reverse a direction of current flowing through the second current-conductive branch portion, wherein the second switching element is opened before the first and third switching elements (36,40) are opened in the second mode of operation. (i) in a first mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is permitted to flow through the first, second and third current-conductive branch portions and is blocked from flowing through the current bypass paths (28,30); and (ii) in a second mode of operation of the circuit interruption device (20,120,220), the current is blocked from flowing through the first and third current-conductive branch portions and is permitted to flow through the current bypass paths (28,30) so as to reverse a direction of current flowing through the second current-conductive branch portion, wherein the second switching element is opened before the first and third switching elements (36,40) are opened in the second mode of operation.