Written question asked by Ian Jnr Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 14 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 March 2012. It was answered by Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Baton Rounds

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to police forces on the deployment of baton rounds; and how any such deployment is authorised.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 66W.The police no longer use baton rounds. They were replaced in June 2005 when the Attenuating Energy Projectile was introduced into service. The Attenuating Energy Projectile is an impact round and performs very differently from baton rounds.Use of the Attenuating Energy Projectile is regulated by the Home Office Code of Practice on the Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons (2003).The Association of Chief Police Officers Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers (2011) provides operational context to the code of practice. Guidance on the use of the Attenuating Energy Projectile in public order situations is also provided by the Association of Chief Police Officers Manual of Guidance on Keeping the Peace (2010).Both the code of practice and the Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers make it clear that deployment and use of the Attenuating Energy Projectile is an operational matter for the chief constable of the relevant force area to authorise.

Secondary information