Police consider radical steps to tackle public disorder

London: Arsonists who set fire to shops with flats above them could be shot where there is serious risk to life, as per an official review of police tactics.

Serious consideration needs to be given to the use of water cannon and plastic bullets as part of a radical shift in police tactics to deal with public disorder, the review of the summer riots by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) says.

The use of firearms with live ammunition could be justified against arsonists when life is being endangered given the "immediacy of the risk and the gravity of the consequences", legal advice published in the review says.

The report, commissioned by the home secretary, concludes that the police were not well prepared for the "widespread, fast-moving and opportunistic criminal attacks on property" seen during the August riots.

Lack of equipment

The review says the lack of equipment and the number of officers deployed hindered the police response and some forces ran out of shields while some police vehicles lacked reinforced glass.

Sir Denis O'Connor, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said an evolutionary version of the summer riots was likely to be seen again and more robust tactics would be needed: "Police estimate that they need to outnumber rioters between three and five to one if they are to make arrests and disperse groups. This meant that arrest tactics were impossible in some circumstances."

The report says that some police commanders erred on the safe side using less forceful tactics, standing their ground rather than going forward to tackle disorder.

O'Connor's call for a public debate on the use of water cannon and plastic bullets comes as the Metropolitan police consider buying three water cannon at a cost of nearly £4m. It follows a warning this week from the Commons home affairs committee that the use of water cannon and plastic bullets would be indiscriminate and dangerous.

The report also raises the prospect of calling in the Army, saying that option is being explored at a senior level, but adds that it is difficult to see how the use of a military level of force would be justified.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd