New curbs on plastic bullets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.CONTROVERSIAL plastic bullets, which the European Union wants to ban, can now be used in England and Wales.
From today, new rules make it explicit that baton rounds, as they are officially known, can be used to protect members of the emergency services as well as the general public.
But the bullets can not be fired just to protect property. Instead, they can be used only as a last resort to prevent "loss of life or serious injury".
The new Home Office guidelines will have the greatest effect in Northern Ireland, where 17 people have been killed, and hundreds seriously hurt, by them since 1972.
Use of the ammunition has dropped dramatically as the possibility of an end to sectarian violence appeared likely. In 1997, 2,527 rounds were fired. The 1998 figure was 1,237 but so far this year only 93 rounds have been discharged.
In April 1997, a European Parliament paper called for the banning of plastic bullets as they constitute "excessive force" and breach the United Nations code of conduct for law enforcers.
Announcing the regulations, Home Secretary Jack Straw said: "Baton rounds have in fact never yet been used in dealing with civil disorder in England and Wales.
"But there could be situations where their use is necessary, and it is therefore vital that all officers are very clear about when and how baton rounds should be deployed.
"Misuse could lead to serious injury or worse," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments