SAOIRSE32

Daily Ireland

Calls for CS spray to be withdrawn from PSNI after DailyIreland discovers it’s used on members of the public on average once every day in North

By Connla Young

There have been calls for CS spray to be withdrawn after it emerged that the PSNI is using the weapon on average once every day in the North.
Figures obtained by Daily Ireland, which are due to be presented to members of the Policing Board’s Community and Human Rights Committee tomorrow, show that between April 2005 and March 2006 CS spray was used by the PSNI on members of the public 412 times.
In recent weeks the Irish government has raised its concerns about the use of CS spray in the North with British authorities through the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Dublin.
The debilitating gas causes its victims to experience streaming eyes, burning sensations on the face, and blurred vision. In some cases victims complain of blistering, swelling, and skin inflammation.
The Policing Board gave its backing to the PSNI’s use of the spray in 2003.
At the time human rights groups and nationalist politicians objected.
Paul O’Connor, from the Pat Finucane Centre, says his organisation has long-standing concerns about the use of CS spray.
“There have been incidents in Derry where PSNI officers have used CS spray illegally and where it constituted a breach of criminal law. The Policing Board approved this weapon without having seen any guidelines and left the framing of the guidelines up to the PSNI themselves. We are very critical of the failure of the board to properly oversee this process.”
It is expected the Policing Board will be given details of CS spray use in each of the PSNI’s district command unit’s areas at tomorrow’s meeting.
North Belfast tops the CS gas league table with 56 incidents recorded between April 2005 and March this year, with Craigavon following up with 34 incidents and Omagh registering 29 occasions when CS spray was used.
West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff said he is concerned at the figures.
“You can bet your bottom dollar this was used disproportionately against the nationalist, Catholic community.
“I am against the use of CS gas. I would like to see a breakdown for where this gas has been used. I would also like to know the circumstances that necessitated the use of CS gas 29 times in 12 months in a place like Omagh. The question of whether this is a weapon of last or first resort needs to be answered.”
A spokesperson for the Policing Board said: “The Board’s Community and Human Rights Committee receives these reports, as well as information on complaints to the Police Ombudsman relating to the use of CS spray. The committee carefully examines this information and raises any issues of concern with PSNI. At its next meeting the Committee will receive a report from PSNI on the use of CS spray from April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2006.
“The board’s human rights advisers also monitor PSNI compliance with the Human Rights Act, including the use of force through public order equipment such as CS spray. In the board’s first human rights annual report, published in March 2005, a section dealt with the use of public order equipment, including CS spray. The board’s second human rights annual report is due for publication in September 2006.”