Less-Lethal Weapons Recently Development Defence Minis- and Justice from and for Research Funding Despite Generous Injury to the Target
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Less-lethal Weapons JULY 2011 • NUMBER 8 here is little agreement on what consti- Box 1 Developments in LLW technology tutes the class of weapons variously Tcalled ‘non-lethal’, ‘less-than-lethal’, or Whereas first-generation less-lethal weapons were designed ‘less-lethal’. In the United Kingdom and the for close engagement (less than ten metres or roughly United States, for example, the military gener- 30 feet), the latest LLWs provide greater range and attempt to deliver variable—or ‘rheostatic’—effects. ally applies the term ‘non-lethal’ to what the law enforcement and criminal justice communities 1. Kinetic energy projectiles are increasingly used for long- would call ‘less-lethal’ weapons. Some law range, accurate direct-fire shots. According to FN Herstal, for enforcement organizations use ‘non-lethal’ to instance, the FN 303 is accurate at 25 metres, and can be used at ranges up to 100 metres (FN Herstal, 2011). In the United describe techniques that include the applica- WEAPONS & MARKETS Kingdom, the new 37 mm Attenuating Energy Projectile, tion of physical force (such as firm grips or used with the Heckler & Koch L104A1, is zeroed at 20 metres punches). For them, ‘less-lethal’ weapons but is reportedly accurate beyond that range (Smith, 2011). would include electroshock devices (such as 2. Acoustic weapons such as the ‘hailing devices’ manufac- the TASER) or flexible baton rounds, which tured and sold by the LRAD Corporation (specifically, the include bean-bag projectiles and rubber bullets Long Range Acoustic Device) can produce tones of 150 deci- (LAPD, 2009, p. 7). The Small Arms Survey uses bels at one metre (about three feet) and can project sound across a distance of up to 3 km (about two miles) (LRAD the term ‘less-lethal weapon’ (LLW) to describe Corporation, n.d.). these type of weapons—and to reflect the fact 3. The Active Denial System is a directed-energy weapon that a lack of training for or inappropriate use that uses millimetre waves to heat up water and fat mol- of such weapons can inflict serious or lethal ecules in the subcutaneous layers of the skin. Raytheon injury to the target.1 Corp. has been marketing the product to military and law When properly used, the various categories enforcement agencies under the name Silent Guardian since 2007. Directed-energy weapon prototypes are still of LLWs are designed to deliver specific, inter- too large to be operationally relevant for military5 or law mediate effects to neutralize or temporarily enforcement use. However, a compact system dubbed incapacitate targets in medium-threat situations ‘Assault Intervention Device’ was introduced for testing (see Box 1). Kinetic energy launchers and in a US detention centre in 2010 (LASD, 2010). Notes their projectiles deliver blunt or penetrating trauma impact to the target. Acoustic weapons (Mispo.org, 2010). Electro-shock weapons such use audible sound technology to deliver warn- as TASER International’s M26 and X26 have ing messages such as speeches, recordings, or arguably influenced police use-of-force doc- warning tones. Electric-shock weapons use trine like no other weapon in the less-lethal electro-muscular disruption to override the category; according to a 2011 company press central nervous system and trigger an uncon- kit, more than 16,200 law enforcement agencies trollable contraction of the muscle tissue. in about 100 countries have purchased at least Directed-energy weapons employ lasers2 and 543,000 TASER devices since 1998 (TASER variable-width beams of energy to cause visual International, 2011). impairment and disorientation. Chemical riot LLWs are increasingly popular with law control agents act peripherally to produce local enforcement and the military, yet they have sensory irritant effects on the eyes, mucous a number of structural, tactical and doctrinal membranes, and skin.3 limitations. Modern kinetic energy weapons, There has been an increase in the number for instance, still suffer from deteriorating of companies that manufacture and trade such accuracy at longer distances. Amid a wealth equipment; today, approximately 450 companies of independent scientific assessments,6 the in 52 countries manufacture LLW systems.4 absence of universal testing standards makes Despite generous funding for research and it difficult to quantify the launchers’ effective- development from justice and defence minis- ness. In addition, there is little consensus among tries, many of the less-lethal weapons recently police and military users regarding tactical and adopted by the military and law enforcement policy requirements for LLWs. are ‘off-the-shelf’, commercially available prod- In the current state of affairs, the LLW ucts developed by the private sector. For instance, market can facilitate the diversion and subse- US companies such as Defense Technology quent misuse of LLWs by governments with Corporation, Combined Tactical Systems (which little or no accountability mechanisms. The sells Combined Systems, Inc., products), and growing use of LLWs by private security com- NonLethal Technologies, Inc., are major ex- panies also adds to this risk. To counter this Research Research porters of kinetic launchers and ammunition trend, some states classify these weapons as Small Arms Survey Research Notes • Number 8 • July 2011 1 About the Small Arms Survey The Small Arms Survey serves as the principal international source of public information on all aspects of small arms and armed violence, and as a resource centre for govern- ments, policy-makers, researchers, and activists. The Survey distributes its findings through Occasional Papers, Issue Briefs, Working Papers, Special Reports, Books, and its annual flagship publication, the Small Arms Survey. The project has an international British Troops fire the Royal Ordnance L67A1 Riot Gun during a riot control seminar in Kosovo, 2002. © Pierre Gobinet staff with expertise in security stud- ies, political science, international firearms and subject them to the same 5 The Active Denial System was deployed public policy, law, economics, licensing procedures and export con- by US troops in Afghanistan but never employed. It was bulky and demanded development studies, conflict reso- trol restrictions. In France, for instance, heavy logistical as well as power support. lution, sociology and criminology, the COUGAR less-lethal projectile 6 See, for example, Papy and Pirlot (2007). and works closely with a world- launchers manufactured by LACROIX– wide network of researchers and Alsetex are classified according to the partners. national legislation as fourth-category References The Small Arms Survey is a firearms and can only be exported with project of the Graduate Institute of an autorisation d’exportation de matériels FN Herstal. 2011. ‘FN 303.’ France. 2010. ‘Matériels de guerre, armes, International and Development de guerre (export authorization for munitions et matériels assimilés, biens Studies, Geneva. For more informa- war materiel) delivered by the French et technologies à double usage, produits tion see www.smallarmssurvey.org. Ministry of Defence and the Customs explosifs.’ administration (France, 2010). Generally LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department). First published: July 2011 speaking, however, governments and 2009. 2008 Use of Force: Year End Report. 2 December. producers have focused more on LASD (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Depart- developing these weapons than on ment). 2010. ‘New Device Unveiled Credits controlling their proliferation or Intended to Stop or Lessen Inmate countering their misuse. Assaults: Assault Intervention Device Author: Pierre Gobinet (AID).’ 20 August. Design and Layout: Richard Jones LRAD Corporation. n.d. ‘Product Overview.’ Mispo.org. 2010. ‘South Africa 2010: World ([email protected]) Sourcing Cup Special Issue—A Guide to Police and Security Equipment in South Africa.’ June. This Research Note is based on Pierre Gobinet, Papy, Alexandre and Marc Pirlot. 2007. Evalu- ‘Procurement and Policy: Police Use of Contact details ation of Kinetic-Energy Non-Lethal Weapons. Emerging Weapons Technology,’ Small Arms Smith, Graham. 2011. Less Lethal Use in the UK: Small Arms Survey Survey 2011: States of Security, Cambridge: Operational Experience. London: Home Cambridge University Press, pp. 68–99. Graduate Institute of International Office Centre for Applied Science and and Development Studies Technology. Paper presented at the 6th European Symposium on Non-Lethal 47 Avenue Blanc Notes Weapons. Ettlingen, 16–18 May. 1202 Geneva Stern, Donald K., et al. 2005. Report of the Switzerland 1 See, for example, Stern et al. (2005). Commission Investigating the Death of 2 Laser stands for Light Amplification by Victoria Snelgrove. Boston: Boston Police t +41 22 908 5777 Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Department. 3 The most commonly known riot control TASER International. 2011. ‘TASER Technology.’ f +41 22 732 2738 agents are CS (2-chlorobenzalmalononi- Press kit. trile), OC (oleoresin capsicum), and PAVA (pelargonic acid vanillylamide), a synthetic This Research Note forms part of a series version of OC. They should not be con- available on the Small Arms Survey website fused with incapacitating chemical agents, at www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/ so-called ‘calmatives’, which depress or by-type/research-notes.html. The online inhibit the function of the central nerv- version of this document will be updated ous system. as more information becomes available. For 4 Figures provided by Omega Foundation’s more information on less-lethal weapons, Neil Corney during the 6th Non-Lethal please visit http://www.smallarmssurvey. Weapons Symposium in Ettlingen, org/weapons-and-markets/products/less- Germany, 16 May 2011. lethal-weapons.html 2 Small Arms Survey Research Notes • Number 8 • July 2011.