Boris Johnson: Blast me with water cannon to show they are safe, says Mayor

 
Go-ahead: the new anti-riot vehicles

Boris Johnson Johnson today agreed to be hosed down by a police water cannon to prove the weapon is safe for use on London’s streets.

The Mayor pledged to take part in the stunt as he clashed with Home Secretary Theresa May by ordering three water cannon from Germany before she had approved their use in Britain.

Mr Johnson was challenged by LBC presenter Nick Ferrari on live radio to stand in front of a water cannon. After pondering the idea of being blasted by a water jet, he said: “OK. Man or mouse. Alright, you’ve challenged me to this. I suppose I’m going to have to do it.”

Mr Johnson also defended going ahead with the purchase of three left-hand-drive water cannon trucks despite the Home Office not yet consenting to their use. He argued that buying and refitting the second hand vehicles for £130,000 would save £2.4 million compared to having to acquire new ones.

Mr Johnson has discussed the issue with David Cameron and the Prime Minister backed “in principle” the mayor acquiring the cannons.

“The right process is going on, with the police and police authorities working with the Home Office, which has decisions to take around licensing and regulatory aspects of it,” said the Prime Minister’s official spokesman. Home Office minister Norman Baker accused the Mayor of trying to “bounce” the Government into a decision and of “gambling” Londoners money by going ahead with the purchase.

Mrs May insisted that she would carry out a “proper” consideration of the health and safety implications of water cannon before reaching a decision.

She added: “Let me be clear about the timetable. The Metropolitan Police started talking about water cannon after the riots in August 2011. The police have to put a case for water cannon. They didn’t put a group together to do that until January 2013 and they did not submit that case to the Home Office until March 2014.”

Lib-Dem minister Mr Baker added: “This needs careful consideration as to whether this is the kind of policing that we want in our country. This is a matter subject to Coalition discussions.”

Water cannon have never been used on the British mainland. The Metropolitan Police said there could be a limited role for the tactic in the wake of the 2011 riots, and Mr Johnson believes there is broad support from Londoners despite opposition in some quarters.

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