§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the possible incapacitant agents which were assessed before the CS sprays were adopted for police use; [38609]
(2) how many published and internal papers have been written by his Department on the health effects of CR gas sprays since 1991; and what are the current security classifications of the internal reports. [38608]
§ Mr. MichaelCR (Dibenz (b.f)-1:4-oxazepine) was considered in a report by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, commissioned by the Home Office, which reviewed the toxicology of CS (Orthochlorobenzylidene Malonitrile). The report, which was produced in December 1994, is unclassified and copies have been placed in the Library. The Home Office has not produce any other published or internal reports on CR.
Incapacitants considered in the 1994 report apart from CS and CR were CN (chloroacetophenone, commonly known as Mace) and oleoresin capsicum (commonly known as pepper spray). None of the alternatives to CS is considered to be an appropriate incapacitant for use by police officers in this country.