§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the chief constable of a police force which does not deploy plastic bullets may, under the arrangements for mutual support, request their use by police called in from other forces under the mutual aid arrangements.
§ Mr. Giles ShawYes; section 14 of the Police Act 1964 would enable requests for such assistance to be met.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether plastic bullets and riot guns were on operational service with police during the 1984–85 miners' strike.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNo.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers in the Metropolitan police 537W were trained in the use of plastic bullets during 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985; and where in London Metropolitan police training in the use of plastic bullets is carried out.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner that about 80 officers a year received initial or refresher training in the use of plastic baton rounds between 1981 and 1984. In 1985, about 120 officers received training. Training takes place in the public order training centre at Hounslow and other Metropolitan police establishments.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to which police forces in England and Wales conduct training sessions in the use of plastic bullets.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThis information is not collected centrally. Equipment of this kind is to be used only by police officers who have been trained in its use and know its characteristics. I listed the forces which hold plastic baton rounds in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 19 November at columns140–41.