The PSNI no longer use plastic baton rounds, they now use Attenuated Energy Projectiles (AEPs). Unlike previous baton rounds, AEPs are designed to be fired directly at people and aren’t ‘meant’ to bounce before impact. Within British Policing Guidelines (via West Mercia, if the PSNI have them online I can’t find them) they are not permitted as a general crowd control device and should only be fired at clearly identified individuals presenting an immediate threat that cannot be dealt with by other tactical options.
The AEP has not been designed for use as a crowd control technology but has been designed for use as a less lethal option in situations where officers are faced with individual aggressors whether such aggressors are acting on their own or as part of a group.
The AEP may be deployed in a variety of operational situations, however the objective will remain the same. The AEP is intended for use as an accurate and discriminating projectile, designed to be fired at individual aggressors.
In the event of it becoming necessary to use an AEP in a public order situation this must be restricted to use against clearly identified individuals who are presenting a threat which must be countered and other tactical options available for countering the threat posed are considered inappropriate in the circumstances
I’m sure the Ombudsman’s office will be investigating why this PSNI officer decided to climb on the roof of an armoured jeep to get a shot off at someone behind a building instead of taking the ‘tactical option’ of maybe moving the few feet away from whatever danger was there.
How far exactly could an individual throw something from behind a building that demands going for the shot instead of moving a little bit? As you hear on the audio the PSNI got the hit instead of stepping back a few feet.
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