The material that follows has been provided by Amnesty International

ELECTRO-SHOCK BATONS: DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE SETS DANGEROUS PRECEDENT

12 AUGUST 1997

Following the sentencing in Scotland today of a businessman for possession of electro-shock torture equipment, Amnesty International UK (AIUK) has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in England to explain why she refused to initiate criminal proceedings in apparently similar cases involving two English firms. Frank Stott, the Managing Director of ICL Technical Plastics Ltd, was fined £5,000.

Earlier this year AIUK revealed that electro-shock batons and similar devices have been used for torture in about 50 countries around the world since 1990. The possession and trade of these weapons without authorisation is an offence in British law under Section 5(1)(b) of Firearms Act 1968.

Conor Foley, AIUK's officer responsible for work on military and security transfers, said today: "The sentencing of Frank Stott today shows that a British court can take action against an individual whose company was complicit in the trade of torture equipment. This sends a powerful signal to other companies. UK complicity in the trade of torture equipment must be stopped and those involved should be brought to justice. "

A Channel Four Dispatches television programme The British Torture Trail filmed footage of representatives of three companies demonstrating to undercover reporters fully operational electro-shock batons and shields. Possession of these articles without the authority of the Secretary of State could amount to a criminal offence and in May 1997 the Scottish Crown Office announced that a prosecution would be brought against Frank Stott.

However, the CPS has ruled that a prosecution against representatives of two other firms, Royal Ordnance and International Procurement Services Limited, would not be in the public interest. AIUK is requesting that the detailed grounds for the CPS decision not to prosecute should be made known.

AIUK is also concerned at the secrecy surrounding the granting of export licences in this area. The Government disclosed for the first time two weeks ago that a shipment of electro-shock batons en route from the US to Saudi Arabia had been allowed through the UK. AIUK calls for complete openness, in the public interest, regarding the trade in equipment which could be used to commit human rights violations.

AIUK is pressing the new government for a fundamental review of the current system of controlling and licensing the export and brokerage of equipment which may be used by torturers around the world.