Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the Defence Science and Technology handbook on collision reduction equipment (1) is informed on issues of best practice in enforcement technology, and (2) accords with other police evidential and handling protocols; and what consultation they undertook with relevant stakeholders.

The Home Office Type Approval requirements and testing regime are amongst the most stringent in the world. This is due to the nature of the UK justice system, and to minimise the number of complex legal challenges.

The Home Office and DSTL recognise the need to improve the type approval process and update the handbook and have been working together to do this in a way that maintains confidence in type approved devices and considers the responsible use of public funds.