them. Medical care must be promptly made available to anyone injured by such projectiles. Multiple projectiles are inaccurate and cause unwarranted injury and therefore have no legitimate law enforcement use. Toxic chemical irritants: These are often referred to as “tear gas” or “pepper spray” and when used in cartridges, grenades or larger sprays (often carried on an officer’s back) the irritants are used to disperse crowds. Other chemical irritant devices are similar to hand-held aerosol cans and are discharged by an officer against a particular individual to stop an act of violence in a stand-off situation. Toxic chemical irritants usually cause burning sensations in the nose and eyes and a tightening of the chest (tear gases) or inflammation of the nostrils, mouth, lips, eyelids and ears which feels like burning (pepper spray). However, the exact chemical mixtures vary and so each type of irritant should be independently evaluated and controlled – especially for factors such as levels of toxicity and propulsion pressure; for example, products should be designed to strictly limit the level of irritant agent (typically 1-5%) for safe use. © Robin Ballantyne above: Chinese 18.4mm less lethal shotgun ammunition left : Chinese 37mm / 38mm tear gas canisters © Robin Ballantyne The discharge of toxic chemical irritants in a certain manner can increase the risk of unnecessary harm or unwarranted injury and death to persons.48 This can occur when law enforcement officers fire a metal cartridge of irritant directly at an individual, or use irritants in a manner likely to be arbitrary or have indiscriminate effects such as when sprayed or fired randomly over a wide area or into drinking water or food, or launch such chemicals at or near unarmed people who are in confined spaces, or where exits and ventilation points are restricted, or launch the irritants near elderly people, children or others who may have difficulty in moving away to avoid the dangerous effects of toxic chemicals. LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES Law enforcement vehicles with legitimate uses under strict regulation Water cannon: These projectile devices are mounted on special vehicles that contain a water tank with a high velocity sprayer designed to disperse and control crowds. The water may be mixed with China’s Trade in Tools of Torture and Repression Amnesty International – Index: ASA 17/042/2014 15