§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any advice was given by legal staff in his Department to the Association of Chief Police Officers before it produced the tactical options manual;
(2) if the tactical options manual prepared by the Association of Chief Police Officers is available to the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he has approved the tactical options manual prepared by the Association of Chief Police Officers for use in the Metropolitan police area;
(4) what legal advice and guidance he gives to police forces on possible police tactics (a) in the Metropolitan police area and (b) generally.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe tactical options manual was issued by ACPO in 1983 with the approval of my noble Friend Lord Whitelaw who was then Home Secretary. No legal advice was given to ACPO by the Home Office. The manual is available to the Metropolitan police as to other 127W forces. The guidance it contains is subject to the overriding principle, set out in section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967, that the police shall use no more force than is reasonable in the circumstances.