The United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets (UCAPB) has raised its opposition to the use of plastic bullets during recent disturbances.
Speaking on behalf of the Campaign, Mark Kelly, brother of 12 year-old Carol Ann Kelly killed in May 1981 by a plastic bullet, said:
“Whilst we condemn utterly the racist and bigoted attacks on valued members of our communities in Ballymena, Larne, Coleraine, Portadown, and elsewhere, we are also mindful that the use of plastic bullets against rioters also places lives in danger.
“These lethal weapons have no place in public order policing whatsoever.
“They are not used in Britain, which has experienced much worse race riots in recent times.
“Given the irrefutable evidence that these weapons are both deadly and indiscriminate once fired, and that Patten recommended an end to their use 26 years ago, it beggars belief that they are still being used on our streets.
“Calls for the banning of these weapons have been made by numerous international human rights organisations including the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
“We call on the chief constable to immediately desist from deploying these lethal weapons before a terrible situation could be made worse.
“We also call on the policing board and justice minister to use their powers and influence to ensure plastic bullets are banned once and for all.
“We call on all political and civic leaders to exercise their influence responsibly to ensure that the rights and protection of our newer communities are upheld; to reiterate that their service and contributions are valued; that they have your unequivocal support; that more efforts are made to welcome and include them as opposed to exclude; that racism is challenged; and above all that they will be safe.”
