Support Our Work Mailing list About / Contact

Pepper spray for police?

01 May 1994

Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is calling for the introduction into Britain of a gas made from oil of peppers, oleoresin capsicum. They say there are no need for trials her as it is widely used by police in the US and Canada. It instantly incapacitates those sprayed, giving them severe respiratory problems for up to a minute, with further "limited side effects" lasting up to an hour. However, the Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) say there are fears that the sprays cause cancer. The PSDB has sent a report to the Home Office after collating worldwide research. "There are some outstanding medical concerns expressed about the risk of cancer", said a PSBD source. Deputy Commissioner of the Met Sir John Smith called on the Home Office to approve the gas's immediate issue. There was no need for trials here, he said, since they had been carried out in the US. Suggestions that the spray is carcinogenic, were dismissed by John Hoddinott, Chief Constable for Hampshire, who said it was "time to sweep away the niceties that might hinder us making progress".

The only chemical agent the police are currently authorised to use is CS gas and this only in extreme public order situations or against armed besieged criminals. The Joint Sanding Committee on the Police Use of Firearms is still considering a report from the PSDB on "less than lethal force" (all self defence and the use of truncheons are considered "less than lethal").

Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

 Previous article

Crime and punishment

Next article 

Right to silence

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error

Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy