§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those individuals and authorities who have made representations to him about introducing a new range of police riot weapons capable of firing both plastic bullets and CS gas canisters.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggOnly CS equipment and plastic baton rounds and launchers of a type authorised by the Home Office may be used by police forces in England and Wales in situations of serious public disorder. Use of the equipment is subject to very strict conditions which my right hon. Friend announced in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 19 May 1986 at columns15–16.
Equipment for use in situations of serious public disorder is kept under review. The police have made representations about the current plastic baton round system and a number of different plastic baton round systems have been tested. No decision has been taken to replace the existing system.