New concern over plastic bullets

An independent report has found that controversial plastic bullets introduced in the North in recent years are potentially more dangerous than the weapons they replaced.

The report, compiled by the Omega Group, found that the L21A1 plastic bullets were faster and hit harder than the ones they replaced. It also found that the new "baton rounds" had an injury rate almost 10 times higher than their predecessors.

Nationalists and republicans have been campaigning for years to have plastic bullets banned in the North and the Omega report is likely to intensify pressure on the British government to scrap the weapons.

The weapons have killed 17 people and injured hundreds more during street disturbances since 1969.