§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of each police authority which has made CS gas available to officers, if he will give, the date of introduction, stating(a) how many cases of CS cross-contamination have been reported, (b) how many officer days have been lost, (c) how many claims for compensation have been filed and (d) how many awards of compensation have been made, giving the amount in each case. [24302]
§ Mr. Michael[holding answer 20 January 1998]: This information is not held centrally. At least 35 forces have introduced, or plan to introduce, CS spray. I am told that there are few, if any, cases in which officers are seriously affected by CS cross-contamination.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 588 officers who suffered cross-contamination effects during the CS Gas trials between 1 March and 31 August 1996 have(a) reported this cross-contamination as minor injury, (b) taken time off work as a consequence, (c) claimed compensation and (d) been awarded compensation, stating the amount in each case. [24283]
§ Mr. MichaelThis information was not collected. The information available about cross-contamination suffered by police officers during the trials is contained in Chapter 4 of the Home Office Police Research Group report which was published in December 1996. A copy of the report is in the Library.