New Rules for OC Gas Deployment
The Mossos d'Esquadra have finalised and published a new protocol regulating the use of OC gas, commonly known as pepper spray, in public order interventions. The document, effective from Wednesday 4th November 2026, applies to operations conducted by the ARRO and Brigada Mòbil (BRIMO) units. Minister Núria Parlon confirmed the publication during a parliamentary session this midday, fulfilling a request from left-wing groups and BRIMO commanders who sought clearer guidelines ahead of the upcoming general strike on 11th November. The protocol replaces outdated provisions from a 2013 instruction on police weapons, which previously governed use but lacked detail. Under the new rules, officers must issue warnings to demonstrators before deploying OC gas, wherever circumstances allow. They must also give sufficient time for individuals to comply with instructions and leave the area safely before spraying. These measures were not formally codified in previous internal instructions, despite being applied in practice.
Conditions for Use and Accountability
The protocol defines specific situations in which OC gas may be deployed, including demonstrations, prison riots, and public security operations where the severity of events justifies its use. Commanders of operational teams are generally responsible for authorising deployment, though individual agents may use the spray without prior approval in cases of sudden and serious risk to people or property. In such cases, they must report the incident immediately to the command centre and justify their actions. Use of OC gas is prohibited against individuals already under police control and discouraged in cases of passive resistance, such as during the Sants operation in October 2025 when Israeli basketball team buses were cleared. It is also not recommended for use in enclosed spaces unless risk assessments and ventilation conditions justify it.
The same procedure, which will be made public for transparency on the Mossos website, in its eighth point, details the measures to mitigate the effect of OC gas in case of accidental exposure.
Agents must project the spray at an angle to create a suspended cloud above crowds, avoiding direct contact with eyes and taking wind direction into account. Spraying must be limited to the minimum duration needed, with repeated or prolonged exposure to individuals prohibited.
Traceability and Weapon Control
Each OC gas canister carries a unique reference number that must be recorded in police reports, ensuring traceability of every deployment. This level of accountability was absent in the 2013 instruction. The new protocol also outlines procedures for handling accidental exposure, including washing affected areas with water and moving to fresh air if inhaled. The document strengthens oversight of all public order weapons and will be incorporated into a broader general instruction on police armaments, to be signed by Director General of the Police Ferran López. This comprehensive instruction will also regulate the use of foam launchers.
The publication comes one week before the 11th November housing strike, during which Mossos intelligence anticipates possible incidents. Since the Sants incident, former Director General Josep Lluís Trapero issued a verbal order to avoid OC gas use until a formal protocol was established. The new rules aim to provide legal certainty for officers while enhancing transparency and accountability. The full protocol is available on the official Mossos website mossos.gencat.cat.
Sources: El Nacional, VilaWeb.
