Police forced to use tear gas 124 times

Details released under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation show the recorded use of CS spray in Foyle rose from 21 instances in 2006/7 to 39 instances in 2007/8 to 64 instances in 2008/9.

Across the wider G District area comprising Londonderry, Limavady, Strabane and Magherafelt CS gas was employed on 283 separate occassions over the same period.

In Londonderry the weapon was drawn but not used on 26 of the 124 reported occasions, whilst in G District it was drawn but not used on 84 occassions.

CS Incapacitant Spray was introduced in Northern Ireland on the 1 July 2004

Officers are bound by internal guidelines on its use contained in PSNI General Order 28/2004.

The use of force by the PSNI is also regulated by its Code of Ethics. The key standards relating to CS Spray are as follows: "Police Officers, in carrying out their duties, shall as far as possible, apply non-violent methods before

resorting to the use of force or firearms.

"They may use force or firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any realistic promise of achieving the intended result (Article 4.1)

"Police Officers responsible for the planning and control of operations where the use of force is a possibility, shall so plan and control them to minimise, to the

greatest extent possible, recourse to force and in particular potentially lethal force (Article 4.2)"

Tear gas should not be used at a distance of less than one metre, in an enclosed area, or on a subject who is restrained or handcuffed.

And, the General Order, states: "Unless the nature of the risk to the officer is such that this cannot be avoided.

"In all such cases, officers must be prepared to justify not only their use of the spray, but also their decision to use it in these circumstances."