HC Deb 01 December 1999 vol 340 c214W
Mr. Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department plans to take following the September publication of the reports by the Committee on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment concerning the effects of CS spray. [100782]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Following the report by the independent Committees on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated that there was no reason to consider withdrawing CS spray from police use.

Operational guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers have been revised to take account of the report's findings concerning the use of CS with persons who are mentally ill and those who may have respiratory conditions. The guidelines include appropriate advice on aftercare and will be issued to chief officers shortly.

The Home Office will be taking forward with the Department of Health the report's recommendation for follow up studies into persons who have received medical treatment following the use of CS spray. In addition, the Home Office's Police Scientific Development Branch is continuing work looking at alternative solvents and potential alternative incapacitants.