POLICE chiefs in Scotland have ruled out following controversial moves in England to use water cannons, CS spray and baton rounds on protesters.
Officers in England may be given the heavy-handed powers following a review of the measures they can take to keep the peace in riot situations.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where water cannons have been used on protesters.
But mi
nisters warned recently that "everything would be looked at" by police forces ahead of major events such as the London Olympics in 2012 and the G8 summit in the UK in 2013.
However, Scotland on Sunday has learned after a Freedom of Information request that Scotland's eight police forces have ruled out the use of such measures.
Lothian and Borders Police did train two officers to use cannon fire in the run- up to the G8 protests in Edinburgh in 2005 but has now decided "not to adopt the use of water cannons as a tactical option".
Officers said draconian tactics had rarely been required in Scotland, and that they were often counter-productive. They cited the use of water cannons during riots in northern Belfast in 2005, which was criticised for creating an even worse disturbance.
The Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland (Acpos) said: "Tactical options for public order situations are kept regularly under review. As part of one such review by Acpos, it was noted that a range of new options were under consideration by other forces elsewhere in the United Kingdom. There is no suggestion that these options would be required in Scotland."
Callum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation said: "The Scottish police service has never historically had a requirement for that kind of control device."
