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Policing - in brief (19)

01 January 2000

ACPO concerned about "inappropriate" use of baton guns: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), who issued guidelines relaxing the deployment of plastic bullets (baton rounds) to police forces in England and Wales last August, have expressed concern over the "inappropriate" use of the lethal weapons. ACPO sources, quoted in Police Review, warned that the baton rounds "are not appropriate in every situation...The circumstances where they are useful will be limited." Their warning comes after Durham constabulary said it is to "go operational" with baton guns. Durham Chief Constable, George Hedges, stated that the guns will not be used in public order situations. Durham constabulary believes that "the baton gun has the ability to bring some dangerous incidents to a conclusion without loss of life", but ACPO has warned that the baton gun "is not a replacement for a firearm". "If you hit someone with a baton round and they are still armed it can make the situation worse" they added. Police Review 15.10.99.

UK: Northumbria constabulary withdraws extendable batons. Northumbria constabulary have withdrawn expandable batons from general use following criticism from the force ACPO policy group. The decision followed a paper from the group that recommended that its use should be "limited"; the force motor cycle section will continue to use it because they need to fold the baton in order to carry it safely. A report by the Crown Prosecution Service in December 1998 warned of lasting injuries caused by the truncheons, which are commonly used by police in the United States (see Statewatch vol 9 no 1). Commenting on his decision, chief constable Crispin Strachen said that the batons had been withdrawn: "...because we did not see the operational necessity to use them...outweighed the research which was available nationally saying such weapons were responsible for a higher proportion of injuries and damage to people than other kinds of baton." Police Review 4.2.00.