Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

The police is set to test a new gadget which is similar in appearance to paint-ball gun and minimises the risk of injuries to alleged criminals and suspects.

 

According to police superintendent Jussi Huhtela, the  FN303 gadget can be used in situations where a suspect needs to be stopped or in situations where there is still time and not necessary to use lethal firearm.

 

Last summer in Helsinki police shot a man in the leg with an MP5 sub-machine gun. The man was armed with a baton, hunting knife and a gun which later turned out to be a start pistol. The shooting of the suspect with a machine gun could have been avoided if the new weapon was in use then.

 

The new weapon is also designed to break up demonstrations and protests as well as for removal of wild animals like moose and wolves from urban areas.

 

The other advantage of the gadget according to the police is its accuracy which is effective up to 70 metres and very accurate up to 50 metres. The weapon, however, cannot be used to aim at the head as it can be life threatening.

 

Together with accessories it costs about euro 2000-3000 and is currently being tested in police stations in Helsinki and Eastern Uusimaa.