The companies below are known to produce crowd control equipment. The first group of companies are also known to have applied for export licences to the US, although in some cases it is ambiguous as to whether the application was for ‘crowd control’ equipment. The second group of companies are not known to have applied for export licences to the US.
Notes:
- information about company export licence applications is drawn from Freedom of Information responses
- the equipment covered by specific Military List ratings is taken from the UK Strategic Export Control Lists.
Companies known to have made export licence applications to the US
PW Defence, formerly Chemring Defence UK
PW Defence says it is “one of the leading pyrotechnic Defence manufacturers in the world”. It sells a range of CS gas munitions including CS cartridges, CS hand grenades and armoured vehicle launched CS grenades. This range was advertised on the companies website until recently – it was taken down at some point between the 4th and 15th of June 2020. Helpfully, the page is archived here.
From the evidence we have, it appears very likely that PW Defence holds an extant licence to supply tear gas to the US. We know that in July 2015 a licence was approved for the export of arms including “CS hand grenades”, “tear gas/irritant ammunition” and “tear gas/riot control agents” to the US. Although company information isn’t provided with that data, we know from company data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act that Chemring Defence UK had applied for this licence (as the destinations and ratings are the same).
This licence will have been valid for three years (rather than five years as it included EU countries) and, at about the point that this licence would have expired, a new licence covering similar equipment was applied for. The two licences are shown here. It appears very likely that this was a follow-on licence.
As a result it is highly likely that PW Defence is the company currently authorised to export “riot control agents”. It has certainly held a licence in the past.
Other Chemring Defence UK licence applications to the US
include:
- 2009, ML2b which covers “Smoke, gas and ‘pyrotechnic’ projectors or generators specially designed or modified for military use”
- 2009, ML3a which covers ammunition
- 2008/2009/2010/2015, ML4a which covers “Bombs, torpedoes, grenades, smoke canisters, rockets, mines, missiles, depth charges, demolition-charges, demolition-devices, demolition-kits, devices that contain ‘pyrotechnics’, cartridges and simulators…, specially designed for military use”
Primetake
Primetake produces CS irritant rounds and also has a “public order” range which includes irritant sprays, rubber batons and rubber ball rounds.
The company applied for ML3a (ammunition) export licences to the US in 2008 and 2010.
Civil Defence Supply
Civil Defence Supply’s website advertises riot shields and riot helmets. In the past it has also advertised “UK Issue CS Spray” & “US Issue OC Pepper Spray”. This is now not advertised publicly on the website. However, on their home page, among a set of pictures with product names and images, there is one labelled “Restricted”, with a picture of canisters with the text “Advanced Irritant” on them. Clicking this link leads to a page where a login username and password is required. A link at the bottom of the page, labelled “Captor Irritants” also leads to this login page. Their exhibitor page at the 2023 Security & Policing arms fair includes “Captor Halal irritant sprays” among their products.
The company applied for “anti-riot and ballistic shields” (PL5001b) export licences to the US in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Centanex
Centanex produces CS irritant ammunition, ball grenades and distraction and smoke grenades.
The company applied for ML4a export licences to the US in 2013 and 2014. ML4a covers “Bombs, torpedoes, grenades, smoke canisters, rockets, mines, missiles, depth charges, demolition-charges, demolition-devices, demolition-kits, devices that contain “pyrotechnics”, cartridges and simulators…, specially designed for military use”
BCB International
BCB International markets (page 124) a “less-lethal launcher” and “less-lethal ammunition” for shotguns.
BCB has applied for many licences to the US, these include:
- 2008/2009/2010/2013/2014, ML2a which covers “Guns, howitzers, cannon, mortars, anti-tank weapons, projectile launchers, military flame throwers, rifles, recoilless rifles, smooth-bore weapons, and signature reduction devices therefor”
- 2010/2015, ML13c – helmets, and ML13d – body armour
- 2010, PL5001b – anti-riot and ballistic shields
- 2014/2015, ML10c1 which covers “‘UAVs’, Remotely Piloted Air Vehicles (RPVs), autonomous programmable vehicles and unmanned ‘lighter-than-air vehicles'”
Safariland
Safariland is a US company whose primary focus is law enforcement equipment. Its products include body armour, holsters, and an extensive range of CS gas rounds and grenades under the Defense Technology brand.
However, on 9 June 2020, following publicity of the use of its tear gas, including during the protests against racist police brutality just prior to the announcement, the company announced it was divesting its Defense Technology brand. The divestment is expected to be completed during 2020.
In 2017, Safariland purchased UK companies Aegis Engineering and LBA International. Both of these companies applied for “anti-riot and ballistic shields” (PL5001b), helmet (ML13c) and body armour (ML13d) export licences to the US in 2015.
DMS Protective
DMS Protective’s portfolio includes batons “specifically designed for… anti-riot and other public order situations” and shields including the Scorpion solo shield. Manufacturing is apparently carried out by sister-company DMS Plastics, which is located in the same building.
DMS Protective applied for an “anti-riot/ballistic shields” (PL5001b) export licence to the US in 2015.
A recent investigation by Lighthouse Reports, the Guardian, Sky News and Bellingcat has revealed the violent use of DMS’s shields by multiple US law enforcement agencies.
Companies not known to have made export licence applications to the US
Deenside
Deenside produces PAVA (a synthetic version of pepper spray), batons and “public order” shields and helmets, and water cannon.
