§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the manufacturers of CS spray devices which have been evaluated for use by police forces by the police scientific development branch since 1994; for what reasons the police scientific development branch recommended the purchase of CS sprays produced by SAE Alsetex; and how many police forces are currently purchasing stocks of CS sprays from SAE Alsetex; [45309]
(2) if he will list the police forces which (a) have and (b) have not issued CS sprays to officers; [45306]
(3) what research has been conducted by the police scientific development branch since 1995 into the safety and effectiveness of reducing the strength of CS in CS sprays currently issued to police officers; when this research was carried out; what are the current security classifications of reports resulting from this research; and if he will place copies of the results of this research in the Library; [45307]
(4) what plans he has to reduce the strength of CS in CS sprays currently issued to police officers to below five per cent.; and what assessment he has made of the safety of the current strength; [45308]
(5) what research has been commissioned by his Department from the DERA since July 1997 into alternative solvents for CS sprays and for what reasons; when this research was commissioned; what are the current security classifications of the reports resulting from this research; and if he will place copies of this research in the Library. [45305]
§ Mr. MichaelIndividual chief officers are responsible for deciding which type of equipment to issue. All forces in England and Wales, apart from Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex, have now issued CS sprays to their officers. A specification issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on the purchase of CS sprays, reflecting advice from the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch, recommends a five per cent. concentration of CS. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to suggest that this guidance is changed. Operational use of this concentration by the French police for many years has been found to be effective in delivering the required amount of incapacitant in a short time. Lower concentrations of CS would require the delivery of a larger quantity of liquid over a longer period to produce an operationally effective dose. It is the total quantity of CS which may be delivered which is relevant to consideration of safety. The specification issued by the ACPO provides that the total content of CS in a can should not exceed 5g to comply with a recommendation by the 1971 inquiry (the Himsworth inquiry) into the medical and toxicological aspects of CS, relating to the use of CS in enclosed spaces. A copy of the report of that inquiry is in the Library.
At the end of 1997, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency carried out a literature review on behalf of the Home Office to identify possible alternative 174W solvents. None was identified. Work in this area by the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch is continuing.
The Branch does not recommend any particular manufacturer of CS spray. CS sprays produced by SAE Alsetex have been chosen by some police forces because they performed best in a competitive national tendering process managed by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of ACPO. Details of how many forces have purchased equipment from SAE Alsetex are not held centrally.