GOLD Coast Police led the state in the use of capsicum spray last year.

According to a Right to Information report released by Queensland Police there were 123 reports of capsicum spray used by police in 2010.

Gold Coast police were clear leaders in the use of capsicum spray in 2010, with Cairns reporting the second highest figures with 63 reports of the spray used.

However, the figure was down on the 160 reported used in 2008 and 164 in 2009.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the Gold Coast had more than half-a- million people, which explained the high number of capsicum spray reports.

“Combine this (population) with a large number of licensed premises and over 100 sporting and entertainment/fundraising events a year on the Gold Coast the deployment number is relatively low,” the spokesman said.

“The Gold Coast Police District also has the highest number of police officers who are trained to deploy OC spray when operationally applicable than any other policing district in the state,” he said.

Queensland Council of Civil Liberties was a strong critic of the police using capsicum spray and the council's vice-president Terry O'Gorman said he was not surprised by Gold Coast's statistic.

“It's no surprise that the two highest results (Gold Coast and Cairns) are also known as the party capitals,” Mr O'Gorman said.

Mr O'Gorman said the use of capsicum spray should be a last resort.

“When the capsicum spray was introduced it was to be as an alternative to drawing their guns and only used as a last resort,” he said.

“It's time that senior police took a look at these numbers.”

Mr O'Gorman said the spray was dangerous and had caused fatalities.

According to the report, the Gold Coast has led the state in the use of capsicum spray for the past three years.

Mr O'Gorman said the most disturbing statistic was the six reports of the spray was used on people under the age of 18.

Oleoresin capsicum was extracted from a plant from the capsicum family.

The spray incapacitates the victim by affecting the respiratory system and causes burning of the throat, dry cough, shortness of breath and an inability to breathe or speak. In extreme cases it causes apnoea and respiratory arrest.