Starmer and his holiday.

They must have been exhausted yesterday.

The police have a hard time of it and tend to be blamed whatever actions or non actions they take. Wouldn’t have their job for quids! Dangerous, stressful and not particularly well rewarded.

Casdon

Pantglas2

So give us the ‘details’ …why they wouldn’t work in 🇬🇧 but some European countries evidently did?

I can’t imagine Teresa May would have taken the decision lightly, she was thorough. Presumably it was related to concerns for public safety?

Google is your friend, pantglas, as I discovered when I looked this up last week. I even found May's decision on the uk.gov pages.

And posted a link to it...

Casdon

I don’t think water cannons are completely banned here, but the police have to get ministerial approval to use them (at least, that’s what I remember from Teresa May’s ruling, it may have changed since).

When I looked it up last week May's ruling was that they were not permitted and it still stood.

Anyway, we don't possess any and they're not the sort of thing that you can nip round to your local B & Q for, so it's a bit pointless to carry on speculating about using them. 😆

Pantglas2

So give us the ‘details’ …why they wouldn’t work in 🇬🇧 but some European countries evidently did?

I can’t imagine Teresa May would have taken the decision lightly, she was thorough. Presumably it was related to concerns for public safety?

Social disorder is different in different countries, that's why.

If you want to know more, google water cannons on wiki.

“I thank goodness every day we are fortunate enough that our police don't routinely carry guns.”

Me too Willow - I’ve spent a lot of time in EU countries where that is the case and it never ceases to scare me. However they appeared to police their strict COVID restrictions a lot better than the UK…go figure!

It appears you can police by consent, as we do, or by force as so many EU countries do, and live with the consequences.

So give us the ‘details’ …why they wouldn’t work in 🇬🇧 but some European countries evidently did?

Pantglas2

MayBee70

Pantglas2

Indeed Callistemon! Or Boris with his water cannons, back in the day!

But they didn’t work and were a waste of public money.

EU don’t agree…

They literally didn’t work. He paid a lot of money for something that couldn’t be used. Something to do with parts not being compatible. Johnson wasn’t a details man.

I don’t think water cannons are completely banned here, but the police have to get ministerial approval to use them (at least, that’s what I remember from Teresa May’s ruling, it may have changed since).

A big no from me.

I thank goodness every day we are fortunate enough that our police don't routinely carry guns.

When that happens, then criminals and thugs will start to "Carry". Knives are bad enough.

Just imagine if the perpetrator of the murders had had a gun, like they do in the mass murders in the states.

Police do and can use tear gas if absolutely necessary.

So France, Germany, Poland, Netherlands off the top of my head - all in the wrong… ah well!

Try behaving like those hooligans in our cities in the Med countries and you’ll see why they carry guns as a matter of course!

MaizieD

Pantglas2

vegansrock

The EU don’t have water cannon, that’s a decision for individual sovereign states.

My mistake - if it’s good enough for EU member states… we can abide by their rules?

It's not so long since the matter of water cannon was raised on this forum. The use of them was banned in England and Wales by the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, on safety grounds. This ban has never been lifted and Johnson's white elephants were sold at a considerable loss.

I repeat.

Water cannon are banned in England and Wales.

Banned = their use is not permitted.

So why are people discussing them?

Posted this elsethread pantglas but thought it might be of interest safety wise

I'm not sure how many UK situations its helpful in.

For example amongst the crowd of rioters in Rotherham - which was an appalling situation - there were children amongst the back of the crowd, possibly older people. (Visible on images) Imagine the consequences.

It may be that a situation could develop where it would be effective, but second guessing the situation in advance and getting cannons there within the hour or so?

There's also damage done, powerful cannons on property, especially if its in a residential area - could it affect utilities?

There are also people who would love to be able to be cast as "victims of OTT police" in the media "heroes"

They are used in France where its a sort of longstanding tradition to turn out for street mob riots versus police and water cannons - they aren't the same.

Wyllow3

What sort of UK policing situations would you see them as useful in, pantglas ?

The exact same as EU countries that deem it necessary…no more, no less .

Pantglas2

vegansrock

The EU don’t have water cannon, that’s a decision for individual sovereign states.

My mistake - if it’s good enough for EU member states… we can abide by their rules?

It's not so long since the matter of water cannon was raised on this forum. The use of them was banned in England and Wales by the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, on safety grounds. This ban has never been lifted and Johnson's white elephants were sold at a considerable loss.

What sort of UK policing situations would you see them as useful in, pantglas ?

… and hear, hear MayBee70

This is a public forum so anyone can read our posts and they do. We have been quoted in the papers. I think we need to be aware of that when we post

And at least one university used Gransnet as a case study for how ‘non-political’ sites discussed the election.

Iam64 hear, hear!

vegansrock

The EU don’t have water cannon, that’s a decision for individual sovereign states.

My mistake - if it’s good enough for EU member states… we can abide by their rules?

The EU don’t have water cannon, that’s a decision for individual sovereign states.

MayBee70

Pantglas2

Indeed Callistemon! Or Boris with his water cannons, back in the day!

But they didn’t work and were a waste of public money.

EU don’t agree…

Biscuitmuncher

Curious as to what people who are unhappy and have nothing to lose are supposed to do?

Seriously?! unhappy and with nothing to lose is now a defence for arson, rioting, looting, criminal damage, attacking police officers, their dogs and horses?

The EDL is organising insurrection. Drunken, drug fuelled people are joining in and causing fear, increasing division.

In answer to your question Biscuitmuncher - they’re supposed not to break the law, not to set fire to buildings with people inside. That’s what not to do- to do is show some respect to the country they claim to love and want back. Be good role models for their children. Accept they have responsibilities as well as rights
The tv coverage of events in Rotherham, Bolton, Manchester etc truly awful

I was unhappy about the referendum result. Went on marches in London. Many thousands of people. No trouble ( other than some people being attacked on their way home). We didn’t even leave any litter. Wrote to several MP’s from different parties. It’s what you do in a democratic society.