Police want grenade launcher to help subdue violent criminals
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Finnish police are looking into the possibility of acquiring a new type of weapon that can stun violent adversaries with thick projectiles about four centimetres in diameter.
A working group set up by the Police Technology Centre has proposed a project in which the possibility of deploying such weapons is being assessed.
Interest has been expressed in at least two types of 40 mm. grenade launchers, as well as a weapon using compressed air, which shoots slightly smaller projectiles.
Finnish police have read about experiences in other countries, and a few individual launchers have been acquired for testing.
Grenade launchers, using non-lethal projectiles, can be used to stop an armed person who is behaving erratically, or individuals in crowds acting violently. The weapon can be fired from a safe distance.
The Finnish military already has such grenade launchers, which can also fire exploding grenades. Police would not use explosive projectiles, but the working group wants to ascertain the possibilities of using shells that emit gas or paint, or just inflict blows that can stun an adversary.
Paint shells can be used to mark a suspected criminal in a crowd for easier identification later. Gas projectiles can be used for sending tear gas used in crowd control.
We are looking for a projectile that fulfils the need for the use of force, but which is not unreasonably dangerous for the intended target, or bystanders”, says Seppo Sivula of the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior.
“The constant aim is to investigate ways of using force other than resorting to firearms, which is the most extreme means”, he says.
“Contrary to practice in some other countries, we cannot arbitrarily use force against a crowd of people, because there can be demonstrators among them who behave in a perfectly legal manner”, he points out.
Sivula says that grenade launcher type weapons can hit a target very accurately from a fairly long distance.
One grenade launcher or equivalent weapon costs about EUR 1,500. Police do not believe that very many such weapons would be needed. They could be used mainly by crowd control forces and the so-called Karhu special force of the Helsinki police.
Sivula says that he expects results from the project later this year. “There’s no hurry.”
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 21.4.2009 - TODAY |
 Police want grenade launcher to help subdue violent criminals |
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