Police Scotland has been told it should draw up guidelines on when it is safe for officers to use CS spray in hospitals following an incident in Kirkcaldy last year.
On October 18, police officers took a 26-year-old man to Victoria Hospital after he collapsed in a police vehicle.
Upon arrival at the Accident and Emergency department, the man became violent towards officers, causing alarm to staff and patients.
At this point, the officers used CS spray to control the man.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner Kate Frame has said officers were justified in using the spray, but police operating procedures do not provide adequate guidance to officers on how to manage exposure to the spray within a hospital environment.
She has now said Police Scotland should issue more guidance on the use of CS spray in hospitals in the Fife policing division and across Scotland.
She said: “Although the use of CS spray in this situation was appropriate in order to alleviate the risk presented to the public, careful consideration should be given as to how exposure to CS spray is managed when it proves necessary to use it within a hospital environment.
“Police Scotland should take steps to consolidate procedure across the country and work with the NHS to ensure its staff are clear on what actions require to be taken following the discharge of CS spray”.
Any time the police use firearms, including CS spray, must be referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner for independent assessment.
The Commissioner also said police were right to use CS spray to subdue a 44-year old-man at a petrol station in Aberdeenshire on November 12.