26 CIRCUMSTANCES OF POTENTIALLY LAWFUL USE 7.1.3 Batons are, in general, a weapon designed for use against individuals who are either inflicting or threatening to inflict injury on a law enforcement official or a member of the public. Baton strikes should be targeted against the assailant’s arms or legs. SPECIFIC RISKS 7.1.4 Over-arm baton strikes on bones and joints have a heightened risk of resulting in dislocations, fractures and soft-tissue injuries.79 Jabs or driving strikes with a baton at the thorax, neck or head should be avoided because of the risk of injury to and even rupture of vital organs. CIRCUMSTANCES OF POTENTIALLY UNLAWFUL USE 7.1.5 Officials should avoid baton strikes to sensitive areas of the body, such as the head, neck and throat, spine, kidneys and abdomen. Neck holds using batons should not be employed, as they present an especially high risk of death or serious injury as a result of compression of large blood vessels or the airway. There is also a risk of injury to the larynx, trachea and hyoid bone. Batons shall not be used against a person who is neither engaged in nor threatening violent behaviour; such use is likely to amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or even torture. 7.2 HAND-HELD CHEMICAL IRRITANTS UTILITY AND DESIGN 7.2.1 A range of hand-held chemical irritants (also called lachrymatory agents) exist for use in law enforcement. The most common are pepper spray (also known as oleoresin capsicum, or OC), PAVA and CS spray. Pepper spray contains capsaicin, a chemical extracted from the fruit of certain plants, 79 M. Stark (ed.), Clinical Forensic Medicine: A Physician’s Guide, 2nd ed. (Humana Press, New York, 2005), p. 198.