Why Don't British Police Carry Mace?

[ColonelDax]

I was just flipping the channels and caught part of the ``Drunk and Dangerous’’ documentary on BBC1. Does anyone happen to know why British police don’t carry mace or some other kind of chemical spray? (If they do, I sure couldn’t tell.) I’m not suggesting that they use it on anyone who looks at them the wrong way, but in situations like some of the ones shown in the doc – where a small group of officers have to deal with crowds that outnumber them and often contain a sizable number of drunk, aggressive louts – it seems to me it would make crowd control a lot easier.

[jjimm]

Because mace is illegal in the UK.

Many pocketknives and other blades, and mace or pepper spray canisters, although legal in the U.S., are illegal in the U.K. and may be confiscated.

Whether or not it would be a good idea is irrelevant, since Parliament would have to pass a law to allow cops to carry it. They do have truncheons, and there are special armed divisions on call, too.

[GorillaMan]

Most forces do equip their officers with CS spray, although that was only introduced a few years ago. And in situations like on that documentary, using such a spray could create all sorts of problems - catching bystanders, incapacitating officers, antagonising the situation further, medical complications, etc.

[mmmiiikkkeee]

@GorillaMan

… using such a spray could create all sorts of problems - catching bystanders, incapacitating officers, antagonising the situation further, medical complications, etc.

Bah, we don’t care about that sissy stuff up here. Our RCMP officers even use the stuff to blast the media if they get too close, and AFAIK, not a single one of them was so much as required to apologize (let alone get in any trouble) for this little gem a few years back . Y’all gotta realize a little pepper spray in the face is good for ya, just ask our old PM ;).

[Kal]

@GorillaMan

Most forces do equip their officers with CS spray, although that was only introduced a few years ago.

Some forces have now replaced CS with pepper spray. For example:

Sussex police in 2001

North Wales police in 2002

And to nitpick jjimm’s post a little, they are armed with US style batons rather than truncheons.

[Lobsang]

@Kal

And to nitpick jjimm’s post a little, they are armed with US style batons rather than truncheons.

Extendible battons I believe. I am sure it varies from force to force.

[Kal]

Yep. From a report to be found here:

Batons are generally one of three types: (i) Monadnock PR-24 side-handled; (ii) straight friction lock and (iii) straight one piece (Arnold). The qualities of the three types of baton will be discussed briefly before considering the study of baton use. The PR 24 is available in both rigid and extendable form. Thirteen forces have opted for the extendable version and ten for the rigid version. The straight friction lock baton is extendable and is the baton of choice of 19 forces. Finally the Arnold is rigid and is the baton of choice for four forces including the Metropolitan Police.

…

The Monadnock PR-24 side-handled baton

The PR-24 has an aluminium frame with a shaft made either of polycarbonate plastic or aluminium. The baton is relatively large (just over 35 centimetres when closed and just over 60 centimetres when extended.) Some officers argue that the PR-24 can be cumbersome to carry in a vehicle and cannot readily be concealed, should this be desirable. The PR-24 is exceptionally versatile. Officers may be trained to use 38 or more different blocking and striking techniques. However, this versatility can also be a problem for officers who rarely draw a baton. They have very little practice using the many blocks or strikes and when faced with a threatening situation can feel unsure and use the baton inappropriately as a result. The importance of training for officers using the PR-24 will emerge in this report.
The straight friction lock extendable baton.

This category includes the CASCO, Asp and Monadnock - different makes of very similar batons. The Asp is the most widely used of the straight friction category. (Six forces use the Casco while 14 use the Asp and none use the Monadnock as the baton of choice for their force). Our comments apply to the Asp but would vary little in relation to other batons within this category The Asp weighs 561 grams and extends from 13 cm to 39 cm when racked. It is made of hollow gun metal and sends shock waves along the fluid of the limb when struck. It creates temporary dysfunction so allows the officer time to take control. A particular feature of the Asp is the small metal knob on the end of the shaft. The Asp is closed by holding it perpendicular to the ground and striking it on a hard surface. The metal knob becomes flattened and rough over time due to this method of closure and is thus more likely to cause injury. The Officers are trained to use the Asp in movements from the shoulder downwards at 45 degrees to the body with the main target area being the legs. However, many officers are trained to stand ready to strike with the baton lying across their shoulder. This position can lead to ?red? areas of the head being struck even when the officer claims to be aiming elsewhere on the body.
The Asp was introduced to the UK from the United States along with the US training manual which was barely amended to take account of UK conditions. This may have led to an unnecessarily aggressive style of baton training and use. We will return to this issue in our recommendations.
The Arnold baton.

The Arnold is produced either as a solid or hollow nylon shaft and handle with a ring of rubber dividing the two sections. The Arnold cannot be extended. It is broader than the friction lock batons and therefore less likely to cause injury. It has a rounded end instead of the metal knob of the friction lock model, again a less dangerous feature.