A six-month Bay of Plenty trial involving police using a more concentrated gel based pepper spray has been extended.
New Zealand police announced in a statement today it will continue with trialling the amended form OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) "pepper" spray which is aimed at improving staff and public safety.
The trial of the stronger spray was first announced in the Bay of Plenty last year.
The spray contains approximately six times more capsicum than the current spray, meaning that it has a more effective immediate impact, and takes slightly longer to wear off. It also contains a non-permanent natural red pigment, which aids aiming and placement of the spray.
The extended trial be held in the Eastern Police District, following the evaluation of two forms of the spray in the Bay of Plenty in November last year - a traditional liquid 'stream' based spray and the slightly thicker gel-based version.