Boris buys water cannon for London

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by Osem

No doubt there are additional costs for transport, refitting etc.

Even so, it means each cost 70k to the taxpayer, more than double the figure he said. Makes me wonder why he didn't just say 70k when it still looks good against the 870k figure. Boris is pretty down to earth with most stuff but just shows that politicians can't help bending the truth

[Osem]

To be fair to the guy we only know what the media has reported of what he said and I dare say all the figures are clearly explained somewhere*. The figure quoted in the media for overall savings takes into account the extra costs so I don't think it's entirely unreasonable to say the devices were bought for £30k each as it's obvious there will be other expenses on top of that given they're coming from Germany and will need to be adapted.

*Here in fact:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/defa...annon%20_0.pdf

5 Financial Comments
5.1 In accordance with MOPACs responsibility to deliver an efficient and effective police force and
secure value for money and the MOPAC Chief Finance Officer’s fiduciary responsibility to local
taxpayers the MPS have negotiated an in principle agreement to purchase three used Wasserwerfer
9000 water cannon from the German Federal Police at a cost of £30,435 each, or £91,305 in total
(€105,000 based on an exchange rate of €1 .15±1 .00).
5.2 Costs for transportation and refitting the vehicles to make them fit for purpose far London, and to
meet rigorous safety standards, are £42,300 per device, or £126,900 in total.
5.3 In comparison, new water cannon cost around £870,000, meaning that for each German device
purchased MOPAC avoid costs of approximately 097,000 or £2,391,000 in total.

Originally Posted by Qtx

Even so, it means each cost 70k to the taxpayer, more than double the figure he said. Makes me wonder why he didn't just say 70k when it still looks good against the 870k figure. Boris is pretty down to earth with most stuff but just shows that politicians can't help bending the truth

I want to know how a water cannon needs refurbished after we buy them ,me thinks the Germans saw Boris coming

[Osem]

Originally Posted by martyh

I want to know how a water cannon needs refurbished after we buy them ,me thinks the Germans saw Boris coming

They're second hand and need to be adapted to meet UK regulations evidently.

I have no idea if this is a acceptable cost for water cannons although it's the kind of thing that Livingstone would have been pilloried for and accused of wasting public money.

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by Damien

I have no idea if this is a acceptable cost for water cannons although it's the kind of thing that Livingstone would have been pilloried for and accused of wasting public money.

Ken would probably have brought them for a million each. Then brought 10 of them. Then done a deal on top that tied us in to only buying fuel from one supplier at an inflated price, for the first 3 years.

[alanbjames]

They were on about Rubber bullets also.

Why not just pea shooters?

Originally Posted by Qtx

Ken would probably have brought them for a million each. Then brought 10 of them. Then done a deal on top that tied us in to only buying fuel from one supplier at an inflated price, for the first 3 years.

Maybe. Although the Venezuelan fuel deal was about cheap oil for buses it just so happens that Venezuela isn't exactly the most ethical supplier (or rather their government wasn't) although I am never quite sure where other parties found the moral authority when it comes to deal with dodgy people to secure cheap(er) energy.

I actually think both mayors were pretty good. Livingstone got the Olympics, helped introduce the Oyster Card, flat rate fares for London buses and crossrail. Boris kept the Olympic flag flying and has introduced the excellent new buses as well as continuing the support for Crossrail and moving Crossrail 2 along.

It's just that a deal like this isn't similar to what Livingstone was pilloried for. Not to mention the colossal waste of money that was the Emirates Sky Line. So I am not quite sure why the Livingstone is the one everyone said wasted money and Boris isn't. The Boris Bikes aren't doing great either.

[Kursk]

“......preparing to give the federalist machinery a good old kicking with their authentically folkloric clogs.”

Ah well Boris, you reap what you sow and watering the seeds is only going to make things worse.

Peasants eh. If you can't beat 'em, soak 'em.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

it might have been a better idea not to shoot people

I suppose it would have been far easier to let gangsters drive about London with weapons rather than trying to deal with it.

[richard s]

Expecting more riots in the future! or an expensive way of watering the hanging baskets.

[Derek]

http://l-bc.co/7BsxrZ

Boris Johnson agreed to be blasted by a water cannon after agreeing to buy three devices, despite not being allowed to use them.

Can't wait to see the Boris version of this picture.

[richard s]

Take that you UKIP voter.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Qtx

Ken would probably have brought them for a million each. Then brought 10 of them. Then done a deal on top that tied us in to only buying fuel from one supplier at an inflated price, for the first 3 years.

Typically, being a Labour man, Red Ken has no real concept of prudence. He'd probably have got them from Venezula subject to ludicrously onerous and expensive long term fuel/maintenance contracts a bit like those PFI schemes his party proliferated...

[Ignitionnet]

This is an extremely smart move.

Have to keep the plebs in order while banks and executives steal their money and that which would be paying for their social services.