The Office of the Police Ombudsman has recommended that the PSNI should review its policy for the deployment of semi automatic weapons during civil disturbances.
This was one of the recommendations arising from the Police Ombudsman's investigation, at the request of the Chief Constable, of the discharge of a police baton round during rioting between rival factions in North Belfast on 2 April 2002.
The rioting, during which police were targeted with blast bombs, petrol bombs, and paint bombs, began in the Limestone Road and moved into Lawther Street where police officers came under heavy and sustained attack from a Loyalist crowd of up to 60 people. An officer was knocked unconscious and when a colleague went to his aid rioters attempted to take his sub-machine gun, succeeding in unlocking its magazine, which fell to the ground. The magazine was recovered, minus two rounds. Eleven police officers were injured in the rioting and there were no reports of anyone being hit by the plastic baton round.
The Police Ombudsman's investigation concluded that the use of the baton round was justified and proportionate and the authorisation and directions given by the police were appropriate, proportionate and consistent with Human Rights and legislation
The Police Ombudsman made several recommendations as a result of the investigation. These included:
- That the PSNI should review its policy for the deployment of semi automatic weapons at civil disturbances and put in place appropriate strategic and operational tactics for their use. The Office recognised the difficulties facing the PSNI in sending officers normally equipped with these weapons to such situations, but said a more strategic and less ad hoc approach was needed.
- Officers should make a written record of the timing of public warnings issued before the deployment of baton rounds, as well as the wording used. In this instance, whilst it was confirmed by police and local residents that a verbal warning had been given, there was no documentary evidence to support this, nor was it possible to identify who gave the warning. This may have been due to the ferocity of the rioting and the heat of the moment.
