§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many baton rounds were discharged by the British Army(a) in each year since 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 and (b) from 1 April 2002 to 24 May 2002. [60762]
§ Mr. IngramI have been asked to reply.
The number of baton rounds fired by the Army since 1 April 1999 are set out in the table.
Year Baton rounds fired 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 0 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 6 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 15 1 April 2002 to 24 May 2002 14
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the guidelines under which the British Army operates when firing baton rounds in their support of PSNI operations. [60761]
§ Mr. IngramI have been asked to reply.
The armed forces are deployed to Northern Ireland to provide military support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which has primacy for security matters in the Province. Soldiers carry out their role using the same practices and procedures that are applicable to the rest of the British Army wherever they may be deployed in the world. While these practices and procedures may be different to those of the police, they are of a commensurate standard.
There are differences between the guidelines for the police and the Army on the use of baton rounds which stem entirely from the differences in their respective operational structures and practices. There are no plans to bring the guidelines exactly into line with the regime governing the use of those equipments by the police.
Soldiers are trained in the use of baton guns and when deployed are issued with guidelines about their use. Baton rounds may be fired, if authorised by the Army commander t the scene, when absolutely necessary to protect against physical violence. However, in exceptional circumstances where a soldier is required to act in self defence the use of a baton round does not require the commander's authority, but the soldier must be satisfied that the force used is proportionate to the threat. In all circumstances soldiers are trained to use no more force than is absolutely necessary.
If a baton round is fired, a Baton Log Report, giving details of the incident, is completed and forwarded, through the chain of command, to HQNI. If a member of the public wishes to lodge a formal complaint about the Army firing a baton round this can be done through the police who will conduct an investigation.