The UK government is mulling over deploying German-made water cannons for the first time outside of Northern Ireland amid fears of summer unrests, local media reported.
Home Secretary Theresa May as well as both the Metropolitan Police and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) are said to be in favor of deploying water cannons to tackle any civil unrest caused by welfare cuts and June’s G8 meeting of world leaders in the UK, The Sunday Express can reveal.
Scotland Yard has said that the cannons would be available to other forces as a “national asset”.
This comes as the deployment of such machinery would revolutionise riot control tactics and mark a move towards tougher European-style policing, according to the police.
Even the type of cannons ready to be used by the British police have been identified, reports said, adding that the intimidating Ziegler Wasserwerfer 9000 is capable of carrying up to 9,000 litres of water, or even tear gas, which can be fired at rioters at the powerful rate of 1,100 litres per second.
The jet is mounted on a heavy-duty vehicle weighing 29 tonnes that is also equipped with CCTV cameras and searchlights at both the front and rear. They are understood to cost about £1.3million each, with an order for three being considered.
During the summer riots of 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron said water cannon from Northern Ireland could be shipped over at 24 hours’ notice, but a formal licence for the Met would mean they would have their vehicles ready at any time.
MOL/HE
UK mulls deployment of water cannons
No comments:
Post a Comment