Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the use of baton guns by police forces in England and Wales; [40473]
(2) what guidelines are in place governing the use of baton guns by police forces in England and Wales. [40474]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 5 March 2002]: Baton rounds have been available to police forces in England and Wales since 1981, primarily for use in situations of public disorder.
In August 1999 the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) reissued operational guidelines for the use of baton rounds in situations of public disorder which were approved by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw).
ACPO also issued guidance on the use of baton rounds in situations where firearms would otherwise need to be used on 24 September 2001. This followed the then Home Secretary's announcement in April 2001 of the introduction of the L21A1 round which unlike its predecessor has a trajectory which is sufficiently predictable to be suitable for such use.
Currently 36 forces, maintained under the Police Act, possess the new baton round and I understand that three others will shortly be acquiring it.