27/02/2014

No 'Convincing Case' For Met Water Cannon Purchase

No "convincing case" has been made for the Metropolitan Police to spend up to £300,000 on three water cannons, the London Assembly's police and crime committee has said.

The report claimed it could not see why the force is in a rush to buy the water cannons, adding that by pressing ahead, the Met is avoiding a "full and proper national debate on the issue".

While water cannons are used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, they are not currently authorised in Britain.

It is understood that the Home Office has been considering introducing the cannons as a "national asset" for all police forces, and it has been suggested that the Met is frustrated over how long the decision is taking.

(MH/JP)

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