§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effects of using(a) tasers and (b) other devices in place of plastic bullets. [171754]
§ Mr. PearsonThe Association of Chief Police Officers is currently conducting a trial of the taser in five police forces. The fourth report of the NIO-led Steering Group published on 29 January provided a summary of the initial review of the trial and of the independent assessment of the medical implications on the use within ACPO guidelines of the taser. That medical assessment was set out more fully in the Steering Group's third report, published in December 2002.
The NIO-led Steering Group has assessed the potential of a wide range of commercial products as potential alternatives to the current L21A1 baton round but none to date have met the criteria for an acceptable, effective and less lethal option. The reports of the Steering Group set out the findings of the assessments in detail.
The fourth report also described the progress that the Government have made in developing two alternatives—the attenuating energy projectile and discriminating irritant projectile.