Scotland Yard unveils 'less lethal' baton guns

The Metropolitan Police unveiled its latest weapon yesterday – a baton gun that fires plastic bullets.

From 1 September, six baton guns will be available for London's SO19 armed response officers.

The L104A1 baton gun fires circular plastic rounds measuring 9cm by 3cm that can knock down a person from 25 metres (80ft) when aimed at the stomach region. Bullets leave the gun at 160mph. They can kill if aimed at the head or upper body, but officers are trained to aim for the belt buckle. They are less lethal than conventional firearms.

They could be used against suspects thought to be carrying knives. Conventional firearms will still be deployed against people suspected of carrying guns.

The Met's Less Lethal Options working group will be reviewing the weapon's use and performance. The group's commander, Andy Baker, said: "It's a firearm but used with proper assessment it is a safe weapon. It is an impact round aimed at putting someone down. It causes trauma.

"It will cause injury but that has got to be levelled against the possibility of someone being shot dead."

Tests are still being carried out on tazers – stun guns with a high-voltage charge, that have been deployed in the US and Canada. Other weapons that could be added to the Met's armoury include water cannons, backpack water lasers and noise sound beams that "make people react in peculiar ways," Mr Baker said.

The £1,082 baton gun will be used only after the officer in charge of a particular incident has given the go-ahead for its deployment, police said.