Government will bring in a law allowing Police to carry sprays to incapacitate criminals in the November session, Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton promised last night.

He said Police would likely get CS spray ? also known as tear gas ? to help them tackle hooligans before they can inflict harm.

He told : "I see the necessity for Police officers to have this to be able keep these people at a distance."

His remarks came after a Police officer suffered a gash to his head and multiple slashes on his stomach after being hacked at by a man wielding a machete on Sunday.

Mr. Horton said consultations has already been carried out with Police who currently feel under-armed amid rising machete, knife and gun violence.

People sprayed with CS spray suffer massive discomfort with burning irritation in their eyes, nose and mouth but the sensation does not cause long-term damage.

Mr. Horton said: "What is needed are some legislative amendments so early in the next term we will bring whatever legislative amendments are needed, certainly in the Fall we should have this in place."

One British policeman told he had used the spray back home to stop a man who came at him and a colleague with a knife.

He said: "He went down like a sack of potatoes. It happened within 20 seconds. It's awesome, really good. It gets in the eyes, the nose, the throat. The person becomes a big mucus bubble.

"When you try to get the handcuffs on you get some of it ? I have had enough to know how powerful it is."

The CS gas is contained within a sticky propellant and when the victim tries to rub their eyes the irritation increases.

However the gas is not always effective against drunks or people high on drugs while some people have a tolerance for it. It is also not good for using on vicious animals while pepper spray is more effective.

The news that Police will be given spray will calm fears among officers who have been crying out for more protection.

They are alarmed about the reluctance to call out the armed response unit, even in situations when lives are clearly in danger, such as during the hunt for the man who had hacked the officer in Somerset.

One officer told : "There is a reluctance among senior management to call out firearms officers.

"It is scary. There was a man hunt at the weekend where unarmed cops were searching for a man who tried to kill a cop."

He said the violence on the MV was a similar situation where credible reports had come in about a man brandishing a weapon yet Police were sent out without any armed back-up.

Yesterday the Bermuda Police Association backed calls for incapacitating spray after saying the officer attacked in Somerset was doing well and was on the way to a full recovery.

A spokesman said: "This unfortunate incident highlights the dangers officers face in order to keep Bermuda safe.

"This incident has again raised the issue of officers being given more personal protection equipment, whether that be in the form of pepper spray, or CS spray or some other defensive option."