This meeting took place on 21 July 2015. Read the transcript here.
“I can inform the House that I have decided not to authorise the Wasserwerfer 9000 water cannon as a policing tactic for operational use in England and Wales” - Home Secretary Theresa May, 15 July 2015. With the Home Secretary announcing they are not to be deployed in England and Wales, what now for the Met’s water cannon?
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will tomorrow question the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC):
Do they accept the Home Secretary’s findings about the water cannon the Mayor bought?
Why keep the water cannon if they are unsafe to use?
How much will it cost to address the 67 faults the Home Secretary has identified with the Met’s machines?
The Committee will also question guests about the Met’s use of Taser, following the death of Jordan Begley in Manchester. An inquest concluded he died partly as a result of being shot with a Taser and being restrained by police officers.
What has the Met learned from the Jordan Begley case?
How many officers are authorised to carry Taser in the Met?
Which boroughs have increased their number of Taser trained officers?
The guests are;
Stephen Greenhalgh, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, (MOPAC)
Craig Mackey, Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 21 July from 10.00am in the Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Notes for Editors:
Joanne McCartney AM, Chair of the Police and Crime Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.