“The Mayor’s decision to buy these weapons in advance of the Home Secretary’s approval was rash and arrogant, and a waste of public money” says Green Assembly Member Jenny Jones as Theresa May refuses to approve use of the water cannons at this time.
The Evening Standard has reported that the Home Secretary is to delay her decision on licensing water cannon until after the general election. In January in evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime said he had spoken to the Home Secretary and told the committee he expected the latest report from SACMILL (Scientific Advisory Committee on the medical implications of less-lethal weaponry) to be completed by the end of January. He also told the committee: “She made it absolutely clear that she will be in a position to make a decision before the purdah period, which I think is 30 March.”
Jenny Jones criticises the purchase of the water cannons, calling them an “indiscriminate military weapon”.
The Mayor purchased three second-hand water cannon from the German Federal police costing £218,205. The Met has currently six officers trained to use the water cannon (1 Water Cannon Commander, 1 Crew Commander and 4 support crew officers).
Responding to the judgment Jenny Jones said:
“I am delighted that the Home Secretary has seen sense and will not be approving water cannon. The Mayor’s decision to buy these weapons in advance of the Home Secretary’s approval was rash and arrogant, and a waste of public money. I’m pleased the Home Secretary was able to see what the Mayor could not. Water cannon is an indiscriminate military weapon that has no place on our streets.”