HC Deb 28 March 1977 vol 929 c67W
Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any assessment has been made of the effect of riot control weapons on targets which are stationary, advancing, fleeing or prone; and with what result.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

The assessments made of baton rounds have been relevant to targets in a variety of circumstances. Experience in use has indicated that with the rubber baton rounds the risk of substantial injury was less than one in a thousand. This round has now been replaced by the PVC round which, because it is more accurate, carries an even smaller risk of striking the more vulnerable parts of the body.