Police to hear Londoners' views on arming force with water cannons

 
High pressure: A water cannon is used on football fans
22 January 2014

Londoners are to be asked for their views on arming the Metropolitan Police with water cannon in time for this summer, it emerged today.

Senior officers at Scotland Yard want to take delivery of the weapon within months to deal possible future outbreaks of rioting.

Stephen Greenhalgh, the deputy mayor for policing, revealed that the Mayor would pay the cost of the machines after the Home Office refused funds to purchase the cannon as a “national asset.”

In a letter to the Home Secretary Theresa May published today he said he was “broadly convinced” of the value of water cannon following a briefing from Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

He said that polling conducted after the 2011 riots found that the majority of people supported the proposal.

He said : “The Commissioner has made it clear that he anticipates that water cannon in London would be rarely seen and rarely used. I am confident that, with the help of Londoners, the Met will be able to develop a proportionate and responsible plan for potential future deployment, with sufficient democratic oversight.”

Mr Greenhalgh said he planned a series of events - including a public meeting - to seek the views of Londoners.

He adds: “Should the engagement plan reveal serious, as yet unidentified, concerns I will, of course, take these into consideration and share them with you before you make any decision to licence this non-lethal tool.”

The deputy mayor said: “I am happy to make the necessary funds available to the MPS for the most economical interim solution that allows the Commissioner to meet his desire to prevent disorder on the streets.”

The consultation is expected to start in the next few weeks and a final decision on the move is expected in February.

The cost of water cannon has not been revealed but the German-made Ziegler Wasserwerfer 9000 costs £1.3 million each. Each machine holds 9,000 litres and is equipped with searchlights and CCTV cameras.

Critics of water cannon criticised the development today.

London Assembly Green Party member Jenny Jones said: “Allowing water cannon on the streets of London is a step in the wrong direction towards arming our police like a military force, and it goes against our great tradition of an unarmed police service.

“People have a democratic right to protest and my fear is that once the Mayor allows these weapons onto our streets we will see them being used against people exercising their legal right to protest.”

She added: “Would the Mayor have supported the deployment of water cannon against students protesting against their fees going up? What happens if the Commissioner wants to deploy water cannon but the Mayor doesn’t? Londoners need to know when and in what circumstances the Mayor would agree with the Met using this weapon.”

A spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime said: “Since the riots in August 2011 the police and the independent Inspectorate of Constabulary have argued that water cannon should be available as one of a range of tools to respond to serious public disorder.

“This is supported by the vast majority of the public. MOPAC will now be undertaking a period of public engagement to get the views of Londoners, prior to any final decision to purchase water cannon.”

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