Side-Handled Batons

EDM number 2039 in 1992-93, proposed by Alun Michael on 19/05/1993.

That this House calls on the Home Secretary to recognise the need to offer greater protection to police officers against the threat of violence and injury in the course of their duties; notes the belief among many police officers that use of the expandable side-handled baton would assist to reduce the risk of injury while increasing effectiveness in some dangerous situations; notes also fears that the use of such equipment could change the nature of the relationship between police and public in a way that could bring fresh danger to serving officers; believes that the lack of a sensible response is now increasing the sense of frustration amongst police officers; calls on the Home Secretary to agree to a pilot project involving the use of these batons in a selected area within each of three police forces, offering contrasting conditions for the experiment, with monitoring by the Inspectorate, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Federation and an independent research team on a basis which allows assessment of operational advantages and disadvantages, police opinion, public reaction and consideration of all other relevant factors; urges that the findings of each be reported to the Home Secretary and to the Home Affairs Select Committee whose findings shall also be considered by the Home Secretary in deciding what proposals to lay before Parliament; calls for this course of action to be commenced without delay in order that the issue may be resolved speedily and in an atmosphere of co-operation amongst all concerned; and calls also for other steps to protect police officers and to tackle violence and the causes of violence in British society.

This motion has been signed by a total of 94 MPs.