HC Deb 19 June 1997 vol 296 cc277-9W
Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the number of plastic baton rounds used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary since the batch with an excessive muzzle velocity was supplied in 1994. [4550]

Mr. Ingram

A total of 7,437 plastic baton rounds have been used by the RUC since ammunition manufactured in 1994 was issued on 18 May 1994.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the(a) number of people injured by plastic baton rounds since 1994 and (b) rate of injury per round used; and what are the figures for the previous three year period. [4549]

Mr. Ingram

There have been 94 alleged injuries associated with incidents involving use of plastic baton rounds between 1 January 1994 and 24 April 1997. This is a rate of one alleged injury for each 94 rounds fired (compared with a rate of one injury for each 95 rounds fired for the period 18 May 1994 to 25 April 1997).

The figures for the previous three years are as follows:

Year Alleged injuries Rounds fired injuries/rounds fired
1993 14 523 1/37.3
1992 8 77 1/11
1991 10 323 1/32.3

These statistics are based on total security force firings.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when plastic baton rounds were first used in Northern Ireland; how many rounds have been used to the latest available date; and how many deaths and injuries have been caused to(a) adults and (b) children over that period. [4553]

Mr. Ingram

Plastic baton rounds were first used in Northern Ireland in 1973, and a total of 65,204 rounds have been used. There have been 14 fatalities associated with their use. There have been 565 alleged injuries associated with incidents involving plastic baton rounds since 1981 when records of these were first kept.

Of the 14 people killed, seven were under 16 years of age. The last fatality was in August 1989.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Royal Ulster Constabulary discovered that plastic baton rounds in use since 1994 had excessive muzzle velocities; on what date they were withdrawn; and how many of the faulty rounds were used by the RUC between those two dates. [4547]

Mr. Ingram

Rounds manufactured in 1994 entered service with the RUC on 18 May 1994. The RUC received notification from the MOD on 24 March 1997 that some 1994 rounds were outside the agreed specification.

All 1994 rounds were withdrawn by 25 April 1997.

The number of rounds with muzzle velocities in excess of the upper limit which were supplied to the RUC or actually used is not known.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the rules for the use of plastic baton rounds by the Royal Ulster Constabulary; on how many occasions they have been used by the RUC since the batch with an excessive muzzle velocity was issued in 1994; and if she will list the dates on which and places where they were used. [4551]

Mr. Ingram

The use of plastic baton rounds is governed by section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 which provides that "A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large."

The RUC's operational guidelines specify that baton guns will be used only "in accordance with the principle of the minimum and reasonable amount of force necessary in the protection of life and property, the preservation of the peace and the prevention and detection of crime." They also place limitations on the firing of baton rounds at a range of less than 20 metres to situations where the safety of police officers or others is seriously threatened, direct that firing should be at selected persons and not indiscriminately at the crowd, and aimed so that they strike the lower part of the target's body direct. A higher point of aim is permitted only if the safety of police officers or others is seriously threatened and the attacker's body is shielded from the firer.

In his 1996 Inspection of the RUC Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary reported that "The RUC conditions/restrictions in use are clearly defined and accord with those issued by the Home Secretary to Forces in England and Wales, save that the authority levels for use of baton rounds and their subsequent operational controls are lower."

The RUC, in conjunction with ACPO colleagues, in England and Wales is currently revising guidelines on the use of baton rounds with a view to recommending common guidelines for use by police throughout the United Kingdom.

I will write to the hon. Member with the further information he requests once it has been prepared.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the RUC discovered that plastic baton rounds in use since 1994 had an excessive muzzle velocity; and if she will make a statement. [4548]

Mr. Ingram

The RUC received notification from the MOD on 24 March 1997 that some rounds manufactured in 1994 were outside the agreed specification.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of each type of injury caused by plastic baton rounds since 1994. [4552]

Mr. Ingram

It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested. There have been 94 alleged injuries from incidents involving the use of plastic baton rounds from 1 January 1994 to 24 April 1997.