§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions incapacitant sprays have been used in each month in each Metropolitan Police division in the past 12 months; and what records are maintained of each use of the spray. [99601]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Metropolitan Police Commissioner has provided the following information on the use of CS spray by borough operational command units (OCUs) for each quarter of the last 12 months.
105W
1998 1999 Borough OCU 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr City of Westminster 4 8 1 3 Hammersmith and Fulham 8 0 5 1 Kensington and Chelsea 0 3 2 1 Barking and Dagenham 5 0 5 3 Barnet 0 5 2 3 Brent 5 5 8 5 Camden 6 2 6 3 Ealing 9 8 6 9 Enfield 1 0 1 0 Hackney 2 4 2 2 Haringey 2 3 3 2 Harrow 3 4 2 5 Havering 3 2 6 7 Hillingdon 8 6 5 9 Islington 5 1 0 1 Newham 5 3 3 3 Redbridge 2 4 2 0 Tower Hamlets 3 3 4 1 Waltham Forest 2 5 5 1 Bexley 1 2 0 1 Bromley 5 4 3 2 Croydon 2 3 5 6 Greenwich 5 8 5 8 Hounslow 5 2 2 5
1998 1999 Borough OCU 4th Qtr 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr Kingston upon Thames 6 4 3 5 Lambeth 6 4 7 11 Lewisham 6 4 3 13 Merton 6 0 3 2 Richmond upon Thames 0 1 1 3 Southwark 7 5 6 7 Spelthorne 1 1 2 0 Sutton 4 6 4 11 Wandsworth 0 2 2 2 Totals 127 112 114 135 The Commissioner tells me that a monthly breakdown for each borough OCU is not readily available.
Reasons for, and the circumstances of, each use of CS spray are recorded in the arresting officer's notes; if no arrest is made, a local record is kept. Each time CS spray is used, details are copied to the relevant Metropolitan Police policy branch and, in many cases, to OCU and area senior management.
§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules, guidelines or other instructions are given to officers of the Metropolitan Police concerning the circumstances in which they may use incapacitant sprays; and what precautions officers must take to avoid danger to(a) members of the public, (b) the person being targeted and (c) fellow officers. [99602]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that training in the use of CS spray for his officers is based on principles contained in the Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines on police use of incapacitant spray.
Metropolitan Police officers are taught that CS spray is a tactical option when the use of force is justified, but it must be used lawfully. Where any use of force is contemplated, officers are trained to take full account of the circumstances and any likely dangers before deciding which tactical option to use. Their training explains the effects of CS spray on the person being sprayed and on others; they are also trained in aftercare procedures for persons sprayed. Custody officers have specific guidance on how to deal with those arrested following the use of CS spray.
§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received in the last year concerning the use of incapacitant sprays by the Metropolitan Police; on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against officers for misuse or other incidents involving an incapacitant spray; how many officers charged with such an offence were disciplined; and what sanctions were applied. [99603]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that between 1 November 1998 and 31 October 1999 there were 38 public complaints by members of the public concerning the use of incapacitant sprays. These complaints involved 41 specific allegations. Of these, 16 have been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. The remaining 25 allegations are still being investigated.
No disciplinary action relating to the use of CS spray has been taken against any Metropolitan Police officer during the same 12-month period.
106W
§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date divisions of the Metropolitan police were issued with incapacitant spray; what type of spray is available to them; how many canisters have been purchased and at what cost; how many officers have been trained in the use of spray; how many hours of such training are set as the minimum training for an officer; and how many officers routinely carry canisters. [99604]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Metropolitan police Commissioner tells me that the date of issue of CS spray varies between divisions because of the lead-in time necessary to train officers. All officers receive four hours initial training before being issued with CS spray; competence in its use is checked at least once a year thereafter. By March 1998, most divisional officers had been issued with CS spray.
The Metropolitan police do not record centrally the number of officers trained in the use of CS spray, nor the number who routinely carry it, but the Commissioner tells me that the majority of operational officers would routinely carry it.
The CS incapacitant spray issued by the Metropolitan police is manufactured by SAE Alsetex in France and supplied in the United Kingdom by Primetake Ltd. This spray contains a 5 per cent. solution of CS in the solvent MIBK (Methyl iso butyl ketone) and the propellant used is nitrogen. Since September 1997, the Metropolitan police has purchased 30,200 canisters at the cost of £196,000.