§ Mr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions police officers in(a) Strathclyde and (b) elsewhere in Scotland have discharged CS spray in the last year; how many police officers were injured; and if he will make a statement. [25831]
§ Mr. McLeish[holding answer 30 January 1998]: Operational trials of CS aerosol incapacitant spray began last October in Strathclyde and Tayside Police areas. Since the trials began the spray has been used on 3 occasions in Strathclyde and once in Tayside. On 2 occasions, officers were in the course of being assaulted when they used the spray. They suffered minor injuries, though they were fit to continue on duty: the use of the spray avoided the risk of much more serious injuries. On one occasion, the officers themselves were slightly affected by the spray, but were fit to continue on duty and suffered no lasting effects. The trials are due to end in March.