GREATER Manchester police are to be included in trials of CS Gas sprays by beat officers.

The Association of Chief Police Officers decided yesterday that the trials would last for six months in 16 forces, Surrey and Hertfordshire having withdrawn from the original list of 18 pilot forces.

The proposed trials were top of the agenda at a quarterly meeting of ACPO's Chief Constables Council in London.

It is believed that more than 2,000 officers will be issued with the canisters which are carried on their belts. News of the trials comes amid growing concern about the frequency of armed attacks on officers.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester police stressed that the CS gas sprays would be used for defensive purposes only.

The areas where officers will carry the sprays have not been decided so it is not yet known whether they will be seen on the streets of Bolton. However, she added that officers chosen to take part in the trials will all be fully trained before they carry the sprays and no decision about permanently introducing the sprays will be taken until the results of the trials have been carefully evaluated.

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