Baton rounds ‘helped to avert tragedy’ in Carrick riot

The Police Ombudsman’s Office accepted an assertion by the officer in charge in Carrick on July 10, 2011 that rioters intended to torch stolen vehicles close to the forecourt and that the “swift actions” of his unit and the tactical use of AEPs (baton rounds) had prevented a “potentially serious incident”.

In the early hours, police received reports of serious disorder in the Woodburn Road area and arrived to find a vehicle on its roof, burning in the middle of the road. Up to 50 people threw stones and other missiles at police from behind the vehicle.

An Ulsterbus, parked near to the filling station, was being attacked and, fearing that it could be hijacked and burnt out, and given its proximity to the filling station, the officer in charge ordered dispersal of the crowd.

Police were attacked with “heavy masonry” and deployment of baton rounds was sanctioned. One AEP was discharged at a rioter wearing a balaclava who was throwing masonry at the officers trying to board the bus, hitting him on the left thigh. A second round missed its target.

The unit remained in the area to monitor the situation and became aware that three other vehicles had been broken into and moved towards the forecourt. The officer in charge said he had no doubt that the swift actions of his unit and the tactical use of AEPs had prevented a potentially serious incident.

The report noted that a failure by police to notify the Police Ombudsman about the discharges in Carrickfergus had delayed the start of the investigation into the circumstances in which AEPs had been used.

The PSNI Silver Commander stated that he considered disorder in Ballyclare and Carrickfergus to be part of the same incident as they were covered by the same police command structure and resources. Discharge of 37 AEPs in Ballyclare had been reported.

The Police Ombudsman concluded that the AEPs fired in Carrick should have been reported, but judged that the situation had arisen as a result of a misinterpretation of guidelines and that no disciplinary action was warranted.