Press Notification – Policing and Plastic Bullets - Press Notification
Press Conference in House of Commons
“Use of Plastic Bullets will fuel Racial Tensions”
A press conference will be held this Thursday 21st June 9am -10am in Room C, House of Commons 1 Parliament Street, London SW1A calling for a ban on the use of plastic bullets in the North of Ireland and Britain. Plastic and Rubber Bullets have killed 17 people including 9 children the North of Ireland and seriously injured hundreds of people.
As Police Forces in Britain stock pile plastic bullets, and noting the escalation of their use in the North of Ireland in 2011, the press conference will focus on the growing concern that these lethal weapons will be used by police forces in Britain in the aftermath of the 2011 riots in England. Campaigners will draw attention to the deadly consequences of their use and the implications in terms of policing communities.
The press conference will be hosted and chaired by Jeremy Corbyn MP who has repeatedly called for the abolition of plastic bullets in the North of Ireland.
Also attending will be veteran Irish human rights campaigner and Chairperson of the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets (UCAPB) Clara Reilly.
Speaking in advance of Thursday’s press conference Clara Reilly said;
‘Plastic bullets have no role in any democratic society that respects and adheres to the principles of human rights protections. The UN Committee on the Rights to the Child and the UN Committee on Torture, have been highly critical of the use of plastic bullets stating that they are a ‘weapon of torture’ and as such their use should be viewed as codified.’
‘Rather than being a policing solution in the North of Ireland it has long been recognised that the use of plastic bullets by police triggered civil disturbances and exacerbated situations, further marginalizing entire communities.
‘It’s important for people in Britain to understand the human devastation of the use of plastic bullets. 17 people were killed by the use of plastic and rubber bullets in the North of Ireland. Nine of those killed were children. The majority of the victims were killed in incidents were there was no disturbances prior to the use of plastic bullets.
‘With ethic and minority communities in Britain experiencing serious difficulties with policing, including racism and with increased tensions, the use of plastic bullets, with the inevitable injuries and real potential for fatalities, will light a fire that will be hard to extinguish. As in the North of Ireland their use would be a recipe for disaster.” ENDS
Editors notes:
Press Conference
“Policing and Plastic Bullets”
9am- 10am, Room C, 1 Parliament Street, London SW1A
Organised by the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets
Chair: Jeremy Corbyn MP
