As a seasoned police officer (despite recent events) one of the main issues surrounding any pepper or CS/OC spray, is the cross contamination, and possible incapacitating capabilities to the ‘user’, not just the ‘target’.
Ask any officer who has been subjected to an incapacitating spray exposure (and not just in some ridiculous training exercise, but operationally), and they will tell you that it cannot be confirmed that only the ‘target’ will get the effects.
Once the ‘target’ is sprayed, if they lunge at you, rather than running off, or are up wind of you, there is a very real chance you’ll get contaminated also and your streaming eyes may reduce what you can see, and your ability to see, and identify the attacker.
Is there any legitimate reason why the RCIPS and the Crisis Centre/Refuge couldn’t allow members of the public to participate in the officer safety training classes, and learn some self-defence techniques also?
Other organisations here offer such training, so maybe a collaborative programme in memory of Estella could be established to help protect our vulnerable residents. She made a difference, and that will not stop.
Paul Dewing
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