UK: "Safe" CS gas splits police forces
01 July 1996
The Home Secretary, Michael Howard, has given the go ahead for police forces in England and Wales to be armed with CS gas canisters. The decision follows trials by sixteen of the 43 police forces over the past 6 months. During these "successful" trials one person - Ibrahima Sey - died and two police forces, Hertfordshire and Surrey, dropped out after expressing concerns about the safety of the incapacitants. The civil liberties organisation, Liberty, has called for a halt to the use of the spray.
During the tests the sprays were used 582 times and there were a further 350 instances where the spray was drawn but not used. It was estimated to have been effective in 90% of cases. During the course of the trials Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces dropped out expressing concerns over safety, and several police officers were injured. Following their approval these forces said that they would not be using them. Peter Sharpe, Chief Constable of Hertfordshire constabulary, said: "I still have concerns over the safety of the delivery agent and the issue of cross contamination with the use of the CS spray."
Reservations were also expressed by Liberty who condemned the decision and noted that the "Results of a six month pilot study by ACPO will remain secret, despite widespread fears about the safety of the spray". Liberty's principal concerns are
*the long term medical effects of the spray
*breaches of ACPO guidelines during tests
*the drift towards policing by coercion
The decision to arm police with the spray was also condemned by the family of Ibrahima Sey, who died at Ilford police station after CS spray was used on him. They pointed out that the decision was premature; they are still awaiting the outcome of an independent autopsy on Mr Sey and a date for his inquest has not even been set and probably won't take place until next year. The Police Complaints Authority are still in the process of conducting an investigation into his death. The family and friends of Mr Sey protested outside the Home Office following the announcement.
Liberty press release 21.8.96; Guardian 22.8.96.<