On a tense June night in Newtownabbey, police fired plastic bullets for the first time in years as masked rioters hurled bricks, petrol bombs, and wheelie-bin fires. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed they had used 17 ‘attenuating energy projectiles’ (the official term for plastic bullets) since disturbances erupted on Tuesday, amid race riots that have targeted minority ethnic communities. The violence, which left 12 officers injured and 16 people arrested, was sparked by the dissemination of a graphic video showing a knife attack on Monday night. The suspect, 30-year-old Hadi Alodid, has been charged with attempted murder. Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, described the disorder as “racist thuggery”.
Plastic bullets are a type of less-lethal weapon designed to disperse crowds without causing fatal injuries. They are fired from specialised launchers and are meant to deliver a painful but non-penetrating impact. In the UK, they have been used primarily in Northern Ireland, where the PSNI has a stockpile and training protocols. Their use is tightly controlled: police must follow strict guidelines, and each firing is automatically reported to the Police Ombudsman for review. The ombudsman confirmed it would assess all 17 incidents. Critics, including Amnesty International, express concern about the risk of serious injury, especially when children are present, as was the case during the recent unrest.
“Explains what plastic bullets are and why their use in Northern Ireland race riots matters.”
The history of plastic bullets in the UK is controversial. They were introduced in the 1970s as a replacement for rubber bullets, which were deemed too inaccurate. In Northern Ireland, they have been deployed during the Troubles and later riots. The most notorious incident occurred in 1987 when a plastic bullet killed a 12-year-old boy in Belfast, sparking widespread condemnation. Since then, their use has been rare, with the PSNI preferring water cannon and other tactics. However, the recent race riots—fueled by far-right elements and online misinformation about the asylum-seeker accused of the stabbing—prompted a harsher police response. The PSNI also received 200 additional officers from Great Britain to bolster its depleted ranks.
For UK readers beyond Northern Ireland, the use of plastic bullets raises questions about policing standards and public safety. The PSNI is chronically under-resourced, with the Police Federation stating it is 1,200 officers short of the promised 7,500. This has left the force reliant on less-lethal options like plastic bullets. The violence in Northern Ireland mirrors similar racist unrest in Great Britain, with three officers injured in Scotland during related protests. The justice system “stands ready to give long sentences,” as Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson warned, but the stakes are high: the riots have targeted nurses, doctors, and minority communities, with homes and cars set ablaze.
Q: Are plastic bullets legal in the UK? Yes, plastic bullets are legal for police use in the UK, primarily in Northern Ireland. Their use is regulated by strict guidelines, and each firing must be reported to the Police Ombudsman for review.
Q: How dangerous are plastic bullets? Plastic bullets can cause serious injury or death, especially if they strike the head or chest. They are classed as less-lethal but have been linked to fatalities, notably the death of a 12-year-old in 1987.
Q: Why were plastic bullets used in the recent Belfast riots? Police deployed them after officers came under attack from bricks, petrol bombs, and other missiles. The PSNI said the violence was “thuggish” and racist, and they used plastic bullets to disperse crowds when other tactics, like water cannon, were insufficient.
What happens next? The PSNI is bracing for a potential third night of unrest, with reinforcements on standby. The Police Ombudsman will investigate each plastic bullet discharge, and courts are preparing to hand down long sentences to those convicted of rioting. The government has condemned the violence as racist, but underlying tensions over migration and policing remain unresolved.