§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances the security forces in Northern Ireland are entitled to shoot on sight.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 12 February 1990]: The law provides, under section 3(1) of the Criminal Law (Northern Ireland) Act 1967, that any person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders. Members of the police and Army are subject to the law in the same way as other citizens. It is ultimately a matter for the courts to decide in individual cases that come before them what is "reasonable" in the particular circumstances of that case.