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Police water cannon faults all addressed, Met chief says Police water cannon faults all addressed, Met chief says
(about 3 hours later)
Dozens of problems with police water cannon use cited by the home secretary have been addressed, the Metropolitan Police commissioner has said.Dozens of problems with police water cannon use cited by the home secretary have been addressed, the Metropolitan Police commissioner has said.
Theresa May recently announced her decision not to allow police to use them and said 67 faults had been identified with the way they operated.Theresa May recently announced her decision not to allow police to use them and said 67 faults had been identified with the way they operated.
Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told a meeting at London's City Hall: "We believe we've addressed all of them."Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told a meeting at London's City Hall: "We believe we've addressed all of them."
But the cannon could put policing by consent "at risk", Mrs May responded. But the cannon could put policing by consent "at risk", Ms May responded.
The home secretary's ruling, which applies across England and Wales, comes a year after three of them were bought by the Metropolitan Police at a total cost of £328,883.The home secretary's ruling, which applies across England and Wales, comes a year after three of them were bought by the Metropolitan Police at a total cost of £328,883.
The issues she highlighted included improving the effectiveness of water jets, ensuring the public address system was audible, replacing a defective water pressure sensor and the need for training to use the equipment in poor light.The issues she highlighted included improving the effectiveness of water jets, ensuring the public address system was audible, replacing a defective water pressure sensor and the need for training to use the equipment in poor light.
'Trivial problems''Trivial problems'
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who was also at the meeting, commented: "They sound like pretty trivial problems to me."London Mayor Boris Johnson, who was also at the meeting, commented: "They sound like pretty trivial problems to me."
Sir Bernard described them as "snagging" issues.Sir Bernard described them as "snagging" issues.
He said: "We do think that those were less of an issue than obviously some fundamental things that the government wanted to consider."He said: "We do think that those were less of an issue than obviously some fundamental things that the government wanted to consider."
Mrs May emphasised she would not give her agreement to the use of water cannon while "evidence suggests that those powers could cause serious harm, where the operational case is not clear, and where the historic principle of policing by consent could be placed at risk". Ms May emphasised she would not give her agreement to the use of water cannon while "evidence suggests that those powers could cause serious harm, where the operational case is not clear, and where the historic principle of policing by consent could be placed at risk".
She said she was "determined" to give the police the tools they need to tackle crime and disorder.She said she was "determined" to give the police the tools they need to tackle crime and disorder.
Mr Johnson previously said the Met Police would continue to train on the three water cannon bought last year. A spokesperson for Mr Johnson said the purchase "saved London's taxpayers millions of pounds".
The statement added: "In the event of future disorder the police are free to reapply for a licence, and in the interim officers will continue to maintain and train on the vehicles."
'Embarrassment''Embarrassment'
In a separate meeting on Tuesday, London's deputy mayor for policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, faced questions about the purchase of water cannon from London Assembly Members.In a separate meeting on Tuesday, London's deputy mayor for policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, faced questions about the purchase of water cannon from London Assembly Members.
Mr Greenhalgh refused to apologise for buying the equipment, insisting it was "safe" and represented "value for money".Mr Greenhalgh refused to apologise for buying the equipment, insisting it was "safe" and represented "value for money".
But he acknowledged deploying them would "not be an option as long as Theresa May remains home secretary".But he acknowledged deploying them would "not be an option as long as Theresa May remains home secretary".
Chair of the Assembly's police and crime committee, Labour's Joanne McCartney, said it was time for Mr Johnson and Mr Greenhalgh to "get over this embarrassment and move on".Chair of the Assembly's police and crime committee, Labour's Joanne McCartney, said it was time for Mr Johnson and Mr Greenhalgh to "get over this embarrassment and move on".
She added: "It still appears to us that the purchase was a complete waste of taxpayers' money."She added: "It still appears to us that the purchase was a complete waste of taxpayers' money."
Water cannon are used in Northern Ireland, but have never been deployed in the rest of the UK.Water cannon are used in Northern Ireland, but have never been deployed in the rest of the UK.