Police personnel, except those in specialised units, will no longer be allowed to carry lethal weapons, in line with a decision made at the meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order yesterday.

A special committee of the Police Headquarters recommends replacing 50 percent of the long barrel firearms with short-barrel ones in order to lower casualties during crowd control operations.

Police are investigating claims that Hollywood star Mel Gibson allegedly shoved and verbally abused an Australian photographer.