Proposals to let police use baton rounds, water cannon and even live ammunition during riots are “madness” and risk turning the streets into warzones, campaigners warned today.
A review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) claimed firearms could be used if the “immediacy of the risk and the gravity of the consequences” justified it and baton rounds and water cannon could be used on rioters.
The Home Office commissioned the report following the August riots, and HMIC said that police need to be better prepared and trained if they’re to face such violence and looting in the future.
It called for clear rules to govern what kind of force was used and when, and which would have public support.
These rules could include making clear that armed police could use firearms with live ammunition during “arson attacks on commercial buildings with linkage to residential dwellings.”
[Read more...]
Related posts:
- Wheat harvest met with live ammunition in Gaza “buffer zone”
- France braces for riots as protests turn violent
- Real_Time_Leaks – Live Webcast From Second Day Of London Riots -
- Local police themselves report ‘unknown’ police units – What is happening on the streets of London and other major cities?
- UK riots: police could get new curfew powers, says Theresa May
- Hose streets? Our streets! Belgian firefighters soak police in protest
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Russian
Spanish
1 comment
Jay
December 21, 2011 at 8:09 am (UTC 1)
The police stood back and gave the rioters carté blanché. NOW, they demand lethal, military style weapons for our streets. Problem, reaction, solution.