L21A1 Baton Round (Hansard, 6 November 2002)

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton:

At the request of the Association of Chief Police Officers, which believes that the improved accuracy of the L21Al baton round means it is suitable for use in serious public disorder and also in dealing with individuals posing an immediate threat to life in circumstances where use of a conventional firearm may otherwise be necessary, we have sought and received a medical statement from the Defence Scientific Advisory Council on the use of the L21A1 baton round at ranges from 1 to 19 metres. This supplements its earlier assessment of the injury potential over longer ranges published on 2 April 2001.

The statement confirms that the probability of unintentional impact to the most vulnerable parts of the body remains low when the round is discharged at ranges of less than 20 metres and that there is no significant change in the probability of rounds striking the potentially vulnerable chest area. This means that the likelihood of serious injury or death occurring as the result of the impact of an L21A1 baton round is no greater at ranges between 1 and 19 metres than at the longer ranges which were the subject of the earlier statement by the Defence Scientific Advisory Council.

I will today be placing a copy of the statement i n the Library. The Association of Chief Police Officers is considering, in consultation with the Government., what, if any, revision to its existing guidelines on the use of baton rounds may be appropriate in the light of this statement.