Water cannon budget

This Assembly notes the current public engagement by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime with regards to police use of water cannon.

This Assembly further notes that the cost of three ‘interim’ water cannon is up to £200,000; and that the Mayor has said that he is “happy to make the necessary funds available to the MPS” and “would expect to do this in February, following the engagement”.   The cost of new water cannon has been estimated at around £600,000 to £1 million each, and it is suggested that forces will “contribute proportionately” to the procurement of these. 

We do not believe that an adequate case has been made to support the introduction of water cannon.

The Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor not to incur any expenditure on water cannon in 2014/15.