Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Scottish police forces have been issued with plastic bullets; and if he will make a statement about regulations governing their use.
§ Mr. AncramNo Scottish police force at present holds baton rounds—plastic bullets. Guidelines on their use were, however, issued to chief constables in 1981, covering the following:
- 1. Baton rounds are to be used only with the express authority of the chief constable (or, in his absence, the officer at the time deputising for him), under the direction and control of a senior officer whom he has designated as officer-in-charge, and by police officers who have been trained in their use and know their characteristics.
- 2. Baton rounds are to be used only as a last resort where conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed, or must from the nature of the circumstances obtaining be unlikely
256 to succeed if tried, and where the chief constable judges such action to be necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property. Wherever practicable, a public warning of their use is to be given. - 3. Only baton rounds of a type authorised by the Scottish Home and Health Department may be used.
- 4. Nothing in the guidelines affects the principle that only the minimum force necessary in the circumstances must be used. The degree of force justified will vary according to the circumstances of each case.