Devon and Cornwall abandons CS spray

Officers in Devon and Cornwall Constabulary from next month will no longer use the traditional CS spray, as the force is moving to CapTor that eliminates the risk of cross contamination when the spray is deployed.

The new spray works in the same ways as CS spray and has a recovery time after deployment of 15 minutes on average, but some offenders may require up to half an hour to recover after being sprayed. The new spray will not affect anyone around the intended target.

Officer safety trainer, Sergeant Mike Griffin, said: “The can is the same size and shape as before and fits into officers’ utility vests as it did previously.

“The spray works in the same way, but has a much more intense effect on its target and has virtually no cross contamination issues.

“Officers can use the spray in confined areas, such as vehicles and custody suites, without fear of returning to those areas. There are no changes to policy or procedure and the spray can be stored in exactly the same way as before.”