§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the use of CS gas spray by the police. [2267]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Decision to issue CS spray equipment is for chief constables while the decision to use CS spray, once issued, rests with individual officers, who must comply with the law in relation to the use of any force.
In April 1995, the Association of Chief Police Officers agreed that selected forces should conduct street trials of CS spray. This followed a long period of consideration of possible police use of incapacitant sprays. Expert assessment of all available scientific data concluded that not enough was know about the health effects of pepper spray but that CS, which had been tested to a level similar to that required for a new pharmaceutical drug, did not present any significant threat to health. Trials took place in 16 forces between 1 March and 31 August 1996. Officers felt that the new equipment had brought about a marked reduction in assaults, although assaults data gave a mixed picture on this. The trials confirmed the safety of CS. Seventeen forces, including the Metropolitan Police, currently have CS sprays. Guidance on the use of CS is an operational matter for chief officers. The Association of Chief Police Officers have produced guidelines, copies of which have been in the Library since April 1996.