Bought in 2014 from the German federal police, the vehicles have never been used because Theresa May, who was Home Secretary at the time, declined to license them citing safety concerns.
In December Johnson’s successor, Sadiq Khan, released a dossier showing that the total cost of the vehicles, including purchase, fitting out and repairs, had been almost £330,000.
That sum includes £19,000 on new paintwork, £5,000 addressing corrosion to the body work, £3,000 to fit sirens and almost £1,000 fitting a Radio / CD player.
Mr Khan has pledged to sell the vehicles, which were already close to the end of their working life when bought for the Met, and use the proceeds to fund youth services.
However more than three months after he enlisted the Ministry of Defence’s help in finding a buyer, the Mayor has told London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon: “They have yet to be sold”.
In answer to a written question tabled by Ms Pidgeon at Mayor’s Question Time, Mr Khan added: “The amount raised for youth services will be dependent on the price agreed with an eventual buyer.”
Commenting on the Mayor’s answer, Ms Pidgeon said: “I am disappointed with the lack of action that has been taken to sell off Boris Johnson’s disastrous water cannon purchase.
“Youth services in London have taken a real hit due to repeated government cuts to local council funding and I would like to see the Mayor giving his all to sell off these pointless vehicles, in order to fund youth projects and tackle gang crime, at the earliest possibility”.
