CS spray: Help or hindrance for police officers?

The Home Office has played down fears that the use of CS sprays by police officers could have potentially harmful effects.

Research published in the Emergency Medicine Journal on Tuesday found that blistering and skin inflammation were significantly more common among people who had been sprayed by police incapacitant sprays than other sprays.

The experts said further research into the chemical combination used by the police was necessary.

Of 152 cases reviewed, 93 were the result of an incident involving the police while the others involved being sprayed by members of the public.

Streaming eyes, a burning sensation and blurred vision were the most often reported effects.

But blistering and skin inflammation also occurred and were more common among people who had been sprayed by the police.

"Less concentrated formulations may reduce the severity or persistence of the adverse effects," said the study.

Following the report, the Home Office pointed to a 1999 review by the official committees on toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

They did not call on the police to stop using the sprays, said a departmental spokesman.

"The cases referred to in this report must be taken in context with the number of times CS was actually used," added the spokesman.

"Those presenting themselves for medical attention are likely to be a very small percentage of those sprayed during the period of the study."

The Home Office also confirmed that work was continuing to identify alternative solvents but this is "a necessarily slow process".

"It is important to ensure that any new solvent would not present additional risks to the user or the public."

John Wadham of the Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was now "time to re-evaluate other options such as synthetic pepper spray or examine whether the composition of CS spray can be changed to reduce damage".

Police officers are entitled to use the spray as a means of restraining suspects while causing a minimum of lasting physical harm.