Concern over CS spray use

Merseyside Police Authority is to prepare an emergency report to put before a police complaints committee in March after receiving 24 allegations of improper use of CS spray.

The canisters, which spray a liquid that turns to gas as it hits skin, were introduced last November 1996, after first being tested in March. Merseyside officers have used the spray at 40 incidents since 25 November and 205 times since last March.

Chairwoman of the complaints committee, councillor Sarah Norman, said: "We are very concerned about the high level of concern among authority members. We are aware that some people are taking legal action and we are will take this matter very seriously."