Less-lethal weapons to be authorised for cops

Seeking to reduce the use of deadly force, the government is moving to legally allow members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to use “less-lethal weapons,” including pepper spray and tasers.

The Police (Amendment) Bill, which is in the name of Minister of Home Affairs Robeson, was read for the first time in the National Assembly last Thursday.

According to the Explanatory Memorandum for the bill, Section 2 of the Police Act would be amended by the insertion of definitions for the terms “arms” and “less-lethal weapons.”