§ 14. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief constables on the policy adopted by their forces for the use of plastic bullets.
§ Mr. HurdNo. Plastic baton rounds should be available to forces which need them, for use in circumstances of last resort. I announced earlier this week that new arrangements had been introduced to provide the necessary equipment. Where a police authority withholds agreement the chief constable will be able to obtain the equipment from my Department if his assessment of need is endorsed by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary. We have also issued revised guidelines on the use of the equipment. Plastic baton rounds have never been used in Great Britain, and I very much hope that they will never have to be, but it is essential that the police should have the means of dealing with extreme disorder.