§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to whom a citizen of Northern Ireland should complain if they believe that they were injured by a plastic bullet fired improperly by a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer; and what complaints procedure exists for examining such complaints. [38955]
§ Sir John WheelerPlastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
A complaint about the conduct of a police officer may be made to a variety of places, including a local police station, the independent commission for police complaints, the police authority or through a solicitor, but ultimately will end up with the police in complaints and discipline branch. If, however, the complaint is about an officer of assistant chief constable rank or above, it will fall to the police authority for consideration.
The procedures for examining complaints are contained in the Police (NI) Order 1987—(1987) No. 938 (N.I.10)— and regulations and guidance issued under it. A guide on making a complaint, issued by the independent commission for police complaints, will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints he has received, to date, about the use by the Royal Ulster Constabulary of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland from 7 July to date. [38959]
§ Sir John WheelerPlastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
In the period from 7 July 1996 until 19 July 1996, five complaints about the use of plastic baton rounds were received by the complaints and discipline branch of the RUC. One of these complaints has since been withdrawn.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets were fired by Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in Northern Ireland between 7 July and 15 July; how many reports of people injured by plastic bullets and requiring hospital treatment he has received, to date; how many people were detained in hospital; how many people remain, to date, in hospital; and if he will make a statement. [38958]
§ Sir John WheelerPlastic bullets are not in use in Northern Ireland.
During the period from 0600 on 7 July to 0600 on 16 July 1996, approximately 6,000 plastic baton rounds—PBRs—were fired by the RUC.
258WThere are reports of injuries to 149 RUC personnel and 192 civilians during this period. It is not possible at this stage to determine how many of the civilian injuries were caused by PBRs. There are no figures to indicate how many people were detained in hospitals.