The Earl of Carlisleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give a report on the production of a baton round which will deliver an impact which is not intended to cause serious or life threatening injury, but is of sufficient force to prevent an individual from retaliating against the forces of law and order; and when it will enter service. [HL1945]
§ Lord Williams of MostynA replacement for the current baton round is currently being developed by the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Royal Ulster Constabulary for operational use by the army and police. This work will take advantage of improved technology in pursuit of the objective of providing a baton round system which can deliver an impact which is not intended to cause serious or life threatening injury, but is of sufficient force to prevent an individual from throwing a missile or breaching a sterile zone. The force delivered should be enough to dissuade repetition of the offending action.
The baton round currently in service is designed to deliver these same objectives. The new round is currently planned to become available for operational use at the end of 1999.