Capsicum Spray - The Record to Date

On 4 December 2001 a 33 year old man died in Brisbane from a suspected heart attack after earlier being subdued by police using oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray. During the past decade OC sprays have become popular with law enforcement and corrections personnel as a less than lethal force option. This Research Note outlines what is OC spray, the physical effects of OC spray, the use of OC spray in Australia and restrictions applying to the importation of OC spray.