Police said in a statement given to us last night that the Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group would continue to carry sponge rounds, and the weapons are under consideration as part the force's "broad tactical capability".
We also asked the Police Minister Stuart Nash about the potential to expand the use of the weapons and was told in a statement that "no such proposal is in front of the Minister, and he would expect to be consulted if there was such a proposal in the future".
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Corin Dann.