CROWD CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES - Omega Research Foundation

on particular parts of the human body. Little public data has emerged to justify the US effort to move
the risk assessment goalposts which could lead to a justification of higher kinetic impact energies
targeted to less vulnerable parts of the body. On the basis of past experience the EU should not take
these findings at face value but must independently test and evaluate any kinetic weapons imported
from the US to ensure they do not breach the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty.
4.2.1 Hand held baton technology has developed from the simple straight, short truncheons to the
introduction of types which increase the kinetic energy of the blow, such as the side handled baton and
expandable or telescopic batons. Batons are used in a variety of ways, such as striking, jabbing or
crushing / compression, that can produce specific injuries - all are blunt trauma impact injuries. The
most common types of injuries inflicted by batons are minor cuts, bruises and sprains. Studies by the
Los Angeles Police Department show that suspects sustained moderate to major injuries in 61% of the
cases involving batons. 172 Serious injuries or death can occur when vulnerable areas of the body are
targeted, such as temple, ears, eyes, bridge of nose, upper lip, throat, collar bone, knee joint and the
hollow behind the ear. 173 174 They include laceration, bruising, fracture of limbs, mandibles, eye socket,
shattering of joints and depressed fractures of the skull. 175 176 The newer types of baton have been
recognised as presenting a problem especially in relation to the type of training given to officers. 177
Some forces have started to withdraw batons because of excessive injuries, 178 and because forms of
striking have been found to cause excessive force, such as overarm or over-the-head strikes. However,
the newer types of baton allow even short stabs and swings to be extremely powerful. One US security
firm has trained its guards to strike in a certain way that looks benign but inflicts severe pain, 179 they
also enable a much higher level of leverage or twisting force to be applied to the subject. This )allows
all officers, even those without significant upper body strength, to use leverage and pain compliance to
quickly bring an adversary into an escort position without striking(. 180 However there is a danger that
stronger officers could easily apply excessive force and there is some evidence to indicate that as at
least one European police force adopting US side handle batons has tended to use them more often.
These weapons give the police more confidence, so they are used more frequently. 181
4.2.2 Water Cannon are predominantly used in conjunction with other riot technologies. Although there
are many reports of their deployment, unless injuries are of a very specific nature they tend to be
aggregated with the general injuries recorded from other weapons such as batons or chemical irritants.
Experience has shown that water cannon can be highly dangerous. An obvious danger is that of a
large, heavy, unwieldy vehicle being used in the middle of a crowd and several deaths have been
reported of people crushed or run down by water cannon vehicles. 182 Jets of water have high kinetic
energy and can knock people to the ground. Injuries such as fractures, bruising and concussion have
been reported when people are bowled over. 183 For example, a German case reported a water jet
knocking a person to the ground causing broken bones as well as shattering their spectacle lenses
and forcing the glass into their eyes. 184
When security forces direct water jets at people who have fallen down, debris or broken glass can
be picked up by the water jet and fired at the prone bodies. Its force can also roll them over directly into
solid objects such as lamp-posts etc. The direct strength of the water jet has been found to strip the
bark off tree trunks, split clothes, cause cases of massive bruising to the thighs and the whole rib cage.
Cases of internal injury from the water jet have also been reported, one of which required
gynaecological examination. 185 The potential of water cannon to cause injury has been recognised by
the UK police. Although a parliamentary answer on the suitability of water cannon ruled them out due
to tactical disadvantages, privately the police had concluded from their testing that there was a )real
danger of killing innocent people with the force of the water(. 186 With the more powerful pulse jet water
cannon system 187 and higher pressures now available, the dangers of inflicting injuries and fatalities
will increase.
The eye is the most vulnerable part of the body when exposed to water cannon. A senior UK police
officer was reported as saying of water cannon that )they could tear your eyes out(. 188 The danger to
the eyes is highlighted in a number of medical reports. For example, a blast of water has been reported
to cause loss of the globe of the eye. 189 A report on low pressure water jets (150 lbs/in 2 (psi) pressure)
found them to cause serious eye injuries with permanent damage. 190 A further report on 3 people
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