This week Sadiq Khan revealed that three redundant water cannon, bought controversially by his predecessor, are to be put up for sale, with the proceeds going towards helping to tackle gang crime.
It is a decision I totally endorse and welcome.
Back in 2014 Boris Johnson decided to purchase three second hand water cannon from Germany. We now discover that £322,834 of taxpayers’ money has been spent by the Met Police on purchasing these 25 year old vehicles, and then transporting, fitting out and repairing the machines.
The scale of the foolishness, and quite frankly arrogance, in purchasing these water cannon is hard to underestimate.
For a start these water cannon were purchased before authorisation was given for their use by the Home Secretary. After they had been purchased consideration of permitting authorisation of their use was undertaken by the then Home Secretary. It was firmly refused. On this issue Theresa May showed immense thoroughness in carefully examining the merits for and against the adoption of water cannon. Her statement to the House of Commons on the 15th July 2015 is an example of a Home Secretary acting in a truly professional way. The Hansard record is well worth a read.
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