§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the proposal in the report of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council, cited by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in its call of 18 July for the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, to stop using "plastic bullets." [HL662]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Government would be delighted if the public order situation improved sufficiently to remove the need to resort to baton rounds. The whole community has a contribution to make to the achievement of that aim but, sadly, we are not there yet. Until then, it is our duty to ensure that the police are provided with equipment that is commensurate with the level of threat with which they have to deal.
However the Government have accepted the Patten recommendations to look for alternatives to the baton round and, to that end have already published the outcome of the literature review which represents the first phase of the project to look into alternatives for baton rounds.
The Government have published strict guidelines in the use of baton rounds.
The Chief Constable of the RUC has also publicly stated that baton rounds are used only when there is a risk to life that cannot be countered by other means. They are not for crowd control.
Like the Government, the Chief Constable looks forward to a time when they would no longer be needed.
During the past weekend, over 40 security force personnel were injured as a result of public order disturbances. No baton rounds were discharged.