The head of the Police Support Unit has joined the call for CS spray to help protect officers on Bermuda?s ?increasingly dangerous streets?.

Acting Inspector Steve Donnelly believes giving Police an additional tool in the fight against crime will benefit both officers and the public.

Statistics have shown threats against Police and incidents where weapons were drawn against officers have doubled in the past year, with the number of injuries sustained in the course of frontline policing also showing a dramatic increase.

?CS spray would definitely help, I am a big proponent of using it,? Act. Insp. Donnelly said?We have the expandable baton as our main piece of frontline equipment, but against many types of violent offender the baton is not effective.?

He said batons can actually cause suspects injuries but CS spray simply incapacitates them.

?After ten minutes they return to normal, by which time they are handcuffed and in the back of the van,? said Act. Insp. Donnelly, who has actually been sprayed himself with the substance on a training course.

?They are also very useful where you have a size differential. If you have a small-framed officer, or a female, taking on a burly 6-foot-4-inch suspect, even with a baton an officer can be out-powered.

?But CS spray can be used by even the smallest officer which means the suspect can be restrained without either party getting injured.?

Calls for the sprays were renewed last month and Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith has also backed the idea, calling for a review into the matter.

?Anything that better equips them and protects them and helps affect arrests has my backing,? he told recently.

?I have called for a review and we would study any recommendations carefully.?