Boris Jumps The Gun On Water Cannon.

[Gromit]

News that Boris has bought 3 water cannon to keep his electorate under control this summer seems to have highlighted another row in the Conservative party.

The purchase was made despite the Home Secretary, Teresa May not yet sanctioning their use in England. She is waiting for medic reports. Boris had £220,000 burning a hole in his pocket, so splashed out (ahem) on the arsenal (more ahem).

And apparently Cameron wants them which kind of forces May's arm.


http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/10/boris-johnson-london-mayor-water-cannon-metropolitan-police

1. Is this a waste of money considering they may never be used?
2. Is this just jousting between Cameron's likely successors?
3. Is Cameron deliberately undermining May?
4. What have people got to riot about?
5. Are water cannon an admission that the police can no long cope?
6. Will Tory in-fighting affect their chances in the General Election?

[Svejk]

4. What you got?

[youngmafbog]

1. No, it will be used - Its a European thing so you should be grateful!
2. Probably
3. No, I woudl ratehr any party have healthy debate.
4. Who knows, sure there are some anarchists somewhere with a grudge.
5. No, it is a cost effective way of dealing with riots rather than let them go on for days. It the Plod started shooting then it would be an admission of failure.
6. Who knows? Is labour any better? (and forget the liberals)

[Svejk]

personally, I'd issue live ammunition to riot police. Guess that's one of the reasons i'll never be PM.

[weecalf]

Gets boris noticed what he spouting about now .

[DrFilth]

just like tasers were only going to be used in exceptional circumstances once they have them they will be used when the police want to clear the streets

[Farriercm]

Hope he tests it out on Number 10 DS, Just as Cameron and Boy George are walking out.YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS.

[DrFilth]

unlike other unlicensed weapons the police use on people these will be easier to spot when used

[Gromit]

And if May does not authorise their use (no other Home Secretary ever has) then that's £220,000 of Tax payers money down the drain. Will Boris apologise, pay back the money?

[DrFilth]

gromit he has probably been given the nod

joe public will be the last to know

[ludwig]

1. Is this a waste of money considering they may never be used?
- No, they might come in handy.

2. Is this just jousting between Cameron's likely successors?
- Don't know, don't care.

3. Is Cameron deliberately undermining May?
- Don't know, don't care.

4. What have people got to riot about?
- Nothing, but that didn't stop them rioting before.

5. Are water cannon an admission that the police can no long cope?
- It's a strange question. It's like asking 'is giving the police truncheons an admission that they're not hard enough?'.

6. Will Tory in-fighting affect their chances in the General Election?
- Probably.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// And if May does not authorise their use (no other Home Secretary ever has) then that's £220,000 of Tax payers money down the drain. Will Boris apologise, pay back the money? ///

If we have yet another period of rioting, killings and lootings, no Home Secretary would dare not to give the go-ahead for the water cannons to be deployed especially since we now have them.

Good for Boris, we should have had them years ago

[weecalf]

She may but then again she may not

[Gromit]

AOG

All the rioting during Thatcher's terms and none of her Home Secretaries bought or approved water cannon on mainland streets. By all accounts, that was a strong Government.

The reason is that the sight of water cannon being used on your own people to keep order is seen as a very negative reflection on the (any) Government. It looks like failure and an inability to control matters. When we see them being used in Istanbul or Athens, the impression is not a good one.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// The reason is that the sight of water cannon being used on your own people to keep order is seen as a very negative reflection on the (any) Government. ///

Only to the liberal left, would you say the same for the use of gas cannisters.

The days are gone when our police could just steer their horses into the crowds so as to break them up.

/// It looks like failure and an inability to control matters. When we see them being used in Istanbul or Athens, the impression is not a good one. ///

Why pick on Istanbul and Athens, France is only across the channel and they are not particularly shy when it comes to using them?

Any other ideas of how you would disperse a dangerously rioting mass?

[retrocop]

Nothing new.The Met had at least one hidden in the Hendon Driving School ready for deployment if authorised.One of my colleagues from Traffic Division was taught to operate it.Baton rounds were purchased and stored after Broadwater but never used subsequently.I'm talking about the 1980's.I never knew the fate of the water cannon(s) the Met possessed at the time.

[retrocop]

Thanks for that Scrivens.They are most likely the two I mentioned although one,at one time, was at the MDS for familiarisation and training.I saw it.It was kept well out of sight from the rest of the Hendon estate.

[Svejk]

///The reason is that the sight of water cannon being used on your own people to keep order is seen as a very negative reflection on the (any) Government///

maybe in the whine-bars of Islington, gromit. Any and all normal people would cheer to the rafters.

[Gromit]

Svejk

// Any and all normal people would cheer to the rafters. //

I was more thinking of the view of Britain from abroad. If Water Cannon were used on the streets of London would greatly harm the tourist industry which is currently worth £127Billion.

I doubt all normal people would cheer to the rafters if they were deployed.