Plan to have fewer armed gardai

A review of the number of armed members within An Garda Síochána is under way with a view to reducing the numbers carrying firearms.

Assistant commissioner Mr Nacie Rice has prepared a paper on the issue for the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, who is currently considering the matter.

The move forms part of an overall proposal within the force to reduce the use of live ammunition while introducing "less than lethal" weapons. It is envisaged that these would be used during "critical incidents" which involve hostage-taking or the use of firearms, but not as crowd control devices. There are currently 1,600 armed gardaí.

A trial of "Taser" electric shock weapons by six UK police forces is nearing completion and will be reviewed by An Garda Síochána before the end of the year. The devices temporarily incapacitate people. Three other "less than lethal" weapons have already been acquired by the force and are cleared for use here.

Members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit have travelled to the Los Angeles sheriff's office for training in the use of the three weapons, and are currently training their colleagues in the unit on how to use the devices.

Det Supt Patrick Hogan, of the Special Detective Unit, told The Irish Times that "the majority" of the ERU's 50 members have already been trained to use the three devices. He said there was "no question" that the devices were intended for use in crowd-control situations.

Gardaí were also working on developing medical expertise that would be present at "critical incidents" when there was a chance that the "less than lethal" weapons would be used. He said the use of Taser devices was "simply a proposal".

"It's one of a number [ of weapons] we're having a look at at the moment. We'll wait and see the results of the UK trial by the end of the year, and then look for more information from manufacturers before making our own decision on it."

Supt Hogan was speaking during the Jane's Less-Lethal Weapons Conference in the Berkeley Court Hotel, Ballsbridge Dublin, yesterday.

The two-day conference, which concludes today, is being organised by Jane's Information Group, the international "provider of intelligence and analysis on national and international defence, security and risk developments".

A crowd of around 150 peace activists gathered outside the Berkeley Court last night in protest at the fact the conference was being held in Dublin. Many activists believe the acquisition by gardaí of "less than lethal" weapons would result in members of the public being intimidated from going to large public demonstrations in the future.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Michael Conaghan, said some in the political establishment feared public protest and dissent. The "gadgetry" under discussion at the Jane's conference formed part of their "agenda to suppress dissent". Gardaí had a long history of unarmed policing that should be closely guarded, he said.

Amnesty International said it had serious reservations about "less than lethal" weapons. These had been used in some countries not as a last resort but in the first instance, and had sometimes proved lethal.

Non-lethal weapons cleared for use by the ERU

A nine lead 40g bean bag device which is shot at an individual from a 12 gauge shotgun at an effective range of 75 metres. The bean bag does not explode or break up on impact. It can injure and disable a target without causing death.

A 12 gauge ferret device, which is used to shoot CS, or pepper, liquid through doors or glass into a room. This would be used to clear individuals from a room. Because the CS or pepper substance is in liquid form, rather than gas, its effects are more localised than gas.

An Mk 21 Aerosol Projector. This device allows a small canister of liquid CS or pepper substance to be fired at high velocity at a target up to a nine metre range. The impact of the canister, combined with the effects of the liquid contained inside, temporarily disables the individual.