31.—(1) Subject to this section, a Superintendent or prison officer may use any weapon —
(a)
against any prisoner escaping or attempting to escape;
(b)
against any person who does any act or attempts to do any act to facilitate the escape of any prisoner ; or
(c)
against any person engaged in any attempt to damage or force or break open —
(i)
the outside door or gate or enclosure wall of a prison or any other part of a prison; or
(ii)
any part of any vehicle in which a prisoner is conveyed.
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(2) A Superintendent or prison officer may use any weapon —
(a)
on any prisoner engaged in any combined outbreak; and
(b)
on any person engaged in any attempt to damage or force or break open —
(i)
the outside door or gate or enclosure wall of a prison or any other part of a prison; or
(ii)
any part of any vehicle in which a prisoner is conveyed,
and may continue to use the weapon so long as the combined outbreak or attempt is actually being prosecuted.
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(3) Every Superintendent and every prison officer may use weapons against any prisoner using violence on any prison officer or other person, if the Superintendent or prison officer has reasonable ground to believe that the prison officer or other person is in danger of life or limb, or that other grievous hurt is likely to be caused to him.
(4) A Superintendent or prison officer shall not resort to the use of any weapon under subsection (1) unless he has reasonable ground to believe that he cannot otherwise prevent the escape of any prisoner .
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(5) Before using any firearm against a prisoner or other person referred to in subsection (1), the Superintendent or prison officer shall give a warning to the prisoner or that other person, as the case may be, that he is about to fire on him.
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(6) No prison officer shall, in the presence of his superior officer, use any firearm against a prisoner or other person in the circumstances described in subsection (1) or (2) except under the orders of his superior officer.
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(7) The use of weapons under this section shall be, as far as possible, to disable and not to kill.
(8) Every police officer who is for the time being serving in the capacity of an escort, or of a guard in or around any prison or lock-up, for the purpose of ensuring the safe custody of any prisoner or prisoners, shall be deemed to have all the powers and privileges granted to prison officers under this section.