Theresa May refuses permission for water cannon to be used on British mainland

 

Home Secretary says police will not be allowed to deploy water cannon, after Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, bought three vehicles for Scotland Yard at a cost of more than £200,000

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has refused permission for water cannon to be used for the first time on the British mainland.

The controversial equipment required authorisation from the Home Office before it could be deployed but Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, hasalready bought three second-hand cannon from Germany at a cost of £218,000.

Mrs May said deployment of the machines in a riot could be "counter-productive" and that she "remained unconvinced" of the "operability" of the 25-year-old vehicles purchased by Scotland Yard.