The establishment of an official timetable for the withdrawal of plastic bullets, as called for in a new report from the Human Rights Commission, is a logical step.
There is compelling evidence that plastic bullets are a potentially lethal weapon and are simply not suitable for use as a riot control measure.
The loss of so many lives down the years proves that the devices have a devastating impact even when fired in what are said to be controlled conditions.
There are also clear indications that formal guidelines for the use of plastic bullets are regularly ignored during highly pressurised street confrontations.
No-one would suggest that police officers and soldiers should be effectively left unprotected when they have to deal with public disorder on a significant scale.
However, it is reasonable to expect that advances in technology can allow the introduction of much safer alternatives to plastic bullets in the short term.
Progress on this issue can only assist the already growing support for our new policing structures.
