Less-Lethal Weapons Recently Development Defence Minis- and Justice from and for Research Funding Despite Generous Injury to the Target

WEAPONS Research Notes & MARKETS NUMBER 8 • JULY 2011 countries manufacture LLW manufacture systems. 52 countries in (see Box Box (see incapacitate targets in medium-threat situations Directed-energy weapons employ lasers Directed-energy tissue. muscle the of contraction trollable uncon- an trigger and system nervous central to override the disruption electro-muscular weapons use tones. Electric-shock warning or recordings, speeches, as such messages ing use audible sound technology to deliver warn- trauma impact to the target. Acoustic weapons deliver blunt or penetrating projectiles their mediate of LLWsinter- to deliver designed specific, are equipment; today, approximately of companies that manufacture and trade such Less T porters of kinetic launchers and ammunition ammunition and launchers of kinetic porters Technologies, Inc.,NonLethal major ex- are Systems, Combined Inc.,sells products), and Corporation, Combined Tactical Systems (which Technology Defense as such US companies ucts developed by the private sector. Forare ‘off-the-shelf’, instance, commercially available prod- and lawadopted military by the enforcement tries, many of the less-lethal weapons recently development defence minis- and justice from and for research funding Despite generous injury to the target. to the injury or lethal serious inflict weaponsof can such for or inappropriate use of alack training that the fact to reflect of weapons—and type these the term ‘less-lethal weapon’ (LLW) to describe (LAPD, include bean-bag projectiles and rubber bullets TASER)the or flexible baton rounds, which as (such devices would include electroshock weapons ‘less-lethal’ them, For punches). or grips firm as (such force physical of tion applica- include the that techniques describe ‘non-lethal’ to use organizations enforcement law Some weapons. ‘less-lethal’ call would enforcement justice and criminal communities ally applies the term ‘non-lethal’ to what the law gener- United States, for example, military the ‘less-lethal’. the and United Kingdom the In membranes, and skin. and membranes, eyes, the on mucous effects irritant sensory control agents act peripherally to produce local riot Chemical disorientation. and impairment variable-width beams of energy to cause visual When properly used, the various categories There has been an increase in the number number the in increase an been has There called ‘non-lethal’,called ‘less-than-lethal’, or of weapons variously class the tutes what on consti- agreement little is here 2009 effects 1 ). Kinetic energy launchers and and launchers energy Kinetic ). , p. - to neutralize or temporarily temporarily or neutralize to 7 lethal Weapons ). The Small Arms Survey uses 1

3 450 companies 2 and and 4

as TASERas International’s M (Mispo.org, kit, more than category; to a2011 according company press less-lethal weapon the no other in like trine use-of-forcepolice doc- influenced arguably 543 at least abouthave 100in purchased countries trend, some states classify these weapons as weapons as these classify states some trend, To risk. adds this counter to this also panies of LLWs use growing com- by private security The mechanisms. or no accountability little of LLWsquent misuse by with governments diversion subse- the and facilitate can market for LLWs. requirements policy police and military users regarding tactical and ness. In addition, there is little consensus among effective- launchers’ the quantify to it difficult makes standards testing of universal absence of independent scientific assessments, of scientific independent awealth Amid at longeraccuracy distances. deteriorating from suffer still for instance, weapons, energy kinetic Modern limitations. doctrinal and tactical of structural, a number haveyet they military, the and enforcement 2011International, Small Arms Survey Research Notes Notes Research Survey Arms Small too large to be operationally relevant for military for relevant operationally to be large too still are prototypes weapon 2007. Directed-energy since Guardian Silent name the under agencies enforcement law and to military product the marketing been has Corp. Raytheon skin. the of layers subcutaneous the in ecules mol- fat and water up to heat waves millimetre uses that weapon adirected-energy is System Denial Active The 3. n.d.). Corporation, (LRAD miles) two (about to 3km up of adistance across sound project can and feet) three (about metre one at bels deci- 150 of tones produce can Device) Acoustic Range Long the (specifically, Corporation LRAD the by sold and tured manufac- devices’ ‘hailing the as such weapons Acoustic 2. 2011). (Smith, range that beyond accurate reportedly is but metres 20 at zeroed is L104A1, &Koch Heckler the with used Projectile, Energy Attenuating mm 37 new the Kingdom, United the In 2011). Herstal, (FN metres to 100 up ranges at instance, the FN 303 is accurate at 25 metres, and can be used range, accurate direct-fire shots. According toFN Herstal, for long- for used increasingly are projectiles energy Kinetic 1. in a US detention centre in 2010 (LASD, 2010). (LASD, 2010 in centre detention aUS in testing for introduced was Device’ Intervention ‘Assault dubbed system However, acompact use. enforcement to deliver variable to deliver attempt and range greater LLWs provide latest the feet), 30 roughly or metres ten than (less engagement close for Whereas first-generation less-lethal weapons were designed 1 Box , In the current state of affairs, the LLW the affairs, of state current the In LLWs are increasingly popular with law TASER000 1998 since (TASER devices Developments in LLW technology LLW in Developments 2010 16 — or ‘rheostatic’ or ). Electro-shock weapons such , 200 ). ). law enforcement agencies — • effects. Number 8 8 Number and X 26 and • 26 have July 2011 2011 July 5 6 or law law or the the 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 governments, 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 studies, 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