§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been charged or disciplined for misuse of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland for each year since they were first used.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe information is not available in the form requested. However, since 1978 a total of five RUC officers have been charged with disciplinary offences and one with a criminal offence arising from the use of plastic baton rounds. One officer was found guilty of disciplinary offences and the remainder were found not guilty. Records are not maintained centrally of minor disciplinary action taken at divisional level against RUC officers and information about such action could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Since 1972 three soldiers involved in two separate incidents have been charged for misuse of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland; in one case the charge was dismissed and the other case, involving two soldiers, has not yet been finalised. Information about soldiers disciplined as a result of incidents involving the use of baton rounds is not available.