The vehicles have been purchased from the German federal police for the Metropolitan Police, despite Home Secretary Theresa May not having yet approved their use.
Will the next Mayor of London replace Boris’s water cannon?
Luckily we don’t have to leave it to the writers of Guardian editorials to decide whether the Met gets to drastically increase its firepower because we can decide the issue at the next City Hall election.
Audio: Boris Johnson quizzed over water cannon decision
London Assembly members quiz Boris Johnson over the decision to purchase three water cannon for the Metropolitan Police before receiving permission from the Home Secretary.
Boris’s police deputy to buy water cannon without Home Secretary’s approval
Boris Johnson’s deputy mayor for policing has authorised the purchase of three water cannon despite not having permission from Home Secretary Theresa May to deploy them.
Boris is making his water cannon decision based on public ignorance and contradictory evidence
Boris’s decision to buy three water cannon for the Met is based on a poll which reveals large numbers of respondents know nothing about the topic while he and the force disagree about who has the final say over their use.
