Baton guns firing plastic bullets should be used by officers as an alternative to lethal firearms, the Police Complaints Authority says.

The weapons have already been introduced in a number of mainland police forces and have so far been fired twice.

Forces have been under pressure to employ non-lethal methods when responding to incidents where people may be armed with knives, swords and weapons other than firearms.

Launching the PCA's annual report on Thursday, chairman Sir Alastair Graham urged all forces in England and Wales to use baton guns.

And he criticised one force - understood to be the Metropolitan Police - for being "slow" in allowing officers to do so.

Delay

"Further alternatives to firearms must be found so that police officers have a range of less lethal options," he said.

"We welcome the introduction of the baton gun as an addition to conventional firearms in suitable situations - two lives have already been saved by it.

ACPO Firearms Guidelines

Firearms should be used only when absolutely necessary after conventional methods have failed Authorised firearms officers must give a clear warning of their intention to use weapon Officers should reassess the need for further action after each shot fired The right to life of all people must be considered, including those of the subject

"We would urge all forces to take up this option, when appropriate, after issuing clear standing orders to officers as to how and when the equipment should be used.

"It is dismaying to hear that at least one police authority has been slow in allowing officers to deploy baton rounds."

The Metropolitan Police authority recently delayed approving the use of baton guns pending further information about the weapons.

Sir Alastair was believed to be referring to this decision when he said: "How would the authority justify the shooting of somebody when the less lethal alternative was languishing in the armoury?

"How would that be justified under the Human Rights Act and the need to protect human life?"

He also stressed there should be speedy research into other less lethal options.

More complaints upheld

The PCA is investigating four fatal police shootings and three non-fatal incidents that took place last year.

One recent high-profile police shooting case was that of Derek Bennett, who was shot and killed by police in Brixton, London while carrying a gun-shaped cigarette lighter last July.

The police service must raise its performance... to reduce the risk to life to a minimum.

Sir Alastair Graham, Police Complaints Authority

Earlier the same month, 37-year-old Andrew Kernan was shot dead by police marksmen in Liverpool when he refused to put down a Samurai sword.

According to figures presented to Parliament, of the 18 people fatally shot by police between 1989 and 1997, six were subsequently found not to be armed.

Guidelines for the use of police firearms are drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

They say firearms should be used only when absolutely necessary after conventional methods have failed.

The PCA report shows the independent organisation dealt with at total of 7,556 complaints against the police last year, compared with 8,880 the previous year.

But the rate of individual complaints against the police that were upheld rose from 11% to 15%.

Deaths in custody

Nearly a quarter of complainants had one or more of their complaints substantiated.

During the year, police forces referred 177 investigations to the PCA for supervision, up from 125 the previous year.

These included 36 deaths in custody, up from 32 the year before.

Sir Alistair said police should do more to prevent deaths in custody.

"Last year we had hangings from an open cell door hatch and a cell tap that should never have happened," he said.

"During the year we concluded several inquiries where the central issue has been dealing with a suspect thought to have swallowed drugs.

"The police service must raise its performance in dealing with such circumstances to reduce the risk to life to a minimum.

"We would commend to all forces the Metropolitan Police's instruction that a prisoner who has, or is suspected of having, swallowed drugs must be treated as having taken an overdose and an ambulance called."