Police Force! An Examination of the Use of Force, Firearms and Less-Lethal Weapons by British Police
| Published date | 01 September 2003 |
| DOI | 10.1350/pojo.76.3.189.19443 |
| Author | Michael David Rogers |
| Date | 01 September 2003 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
MICHAEL DAVID ROGERS
Independent researcher
POLICE FORCE! AN EXAMINATION
OF THE USE OF FORCE,
FIREARMS AND LESS-LETHAL
WEAPONS BY BRITISH POLICE
Since the turn of the century the police use of firearms has
become increasingly scrutinised by the press and public. To
answer the increasing demands for better policing of firearms
situations, the government and police forces of the UK have
committed to the research of less-lethal weapons. This article
strives to discuss how the police use of firearms may develop
in the future with the introduction of less-lethal weapons. The
discussion is based around three main themes: the development
of the police use of firearms since the 1960s; the comparison of
the main types of less-lethal weapons currently available; and a
review of a Police Complaints Authority report into police
shootings arguing that less-lethal weapons may have made a
difference. It is concluded by proposing that a risk assessment
procedure is created so that firearms officers can decide which
weapon is best suited to each incident.
Introduction
In the summer of 2001, two men were shot dead by police. The
circumstances of these shootings were controversial. The shoot-
ings occurred just days apart, the first in Liverpool on 12 July, of
a male psychiatric patient who was running wild with a sword.
The second was in London on 16 July, of a man who was
brandishing a gun-shaped cigarette lighter. The police argued
that lives, both theirs and those of the public would have been in
danger if these men had not been dealt with. Also in the summer
of 2001, a month or so before the two shootings, a new improved
baton round was approved by the Home Secretary, to be used by
British police. Arguably this less-lethal weapon could have
saved the trauma that everyone involved with these police
shootings went through.
At the time that these shootings took place, a UK-wide
steering group (led by the Northern Ireland Office) was in the
middle of conducting a research programme into less-lethal
weapons. This programme resulted from recommendations made
The Police Journal, Volume 76 (2003) 189
To continue reading
Request your trial