• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Met urged to buy cheaper, more mobile sound cannon instead of water cannon

March 5, 2014 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

New York's police already use 'sound cannon'. Image: Peter Bergin.com/Wikipedia
New York’s police already use ‘sound cannon’. Image: Peter Bergin.com/Wikipedia
Met bosses have been urged to drop plans to buy three water cannon and instead purchase ‘sound cannon’ devices which emit a targeted, high pitched noise to dispel crowds.

The force and Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime are considering buying the water cannon as means of dealing with potential, future civil disorder.

A majority of Assembly Members from all four City Hall parties have expressed concerns about the plans and have urged the Mayor to delay any decision until a national review into their use on the UK mainland is completed.

Conservative AM Tony Arbour says Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) would cost £18,000 – 25 times cheaper than the cost of proposed water cannon – and would be more mobile, allowing them to be more easily and speedily deployed.

The devices were previously deployed in London by the military during the 2012 Olympics and are available to police during protests in New York City, Chicago and Barcelona.

Mr Arbour used a meeting of the London Assembly to ask Mayor Boris Johnson and Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to consider buying the LRADs instead of water cannon.

Sir Bernard said it would be necessary to ascertain if the devices could be defended against by wearing earplugs and said he was unaware that they’d been deployed during the Olympics.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards

New road layout comes into effect at Old Street roundabout

TfL funding enables creation of 2,000 new cycle parking spaces




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.