BBC News Online: UK

Police official in plastic bullets call

The weapons have not been fired before by police in mainland Britain.

Paul Kelly, whose organisation represents officers in the front line of the disturbances, was speaking after a weekend of trouble in Burnley, Lancashire.

He revealed that during three nights of race riots in Oldham in May, officers were put on stand-by to use baton rounds.

Mr Kelly regretted that officers' tactics on the most violent night allowed the rioters to come within four metres of the line of shields and inflict more than 80 injuries.

He said: "It might well be that we change tactics. We cannot say we are happy taking 80 or 90 injuries in one night, so I hope there is a change of tactics."

'Reasonable force'

Next month, senior officers will discuss the circumstances in which it would be sensible to use plastic bullets.

"The regulations are that you can use whatever force is reasonable in order to make an arrest," said Mr Kelly.

"You do not want to see these things on the streets, but plastic bullets are a tool and they should be considered," he added.

Referring to inner-city riots on Merseyside in the 1980's, Mr Kelly recalled: "I was cursed to be in Toxteth the first time CS gas was used and it was not pleasant."