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Northern Ireland police chief says water cannon use justified Northern Ireland police chief says water cannon use justified
(about 2 hours later)
A senior police commander in Northern Ireland has defended the deployment of water cannon to quell rioting in Belfast, during which dozens of petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at officers.A senior police commander in Northern Ireland has defended the deployment of water cannon to quell rioting in Belfast, during which dozens of petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at officers.
Related: Theresa May rejects Boris Johnson’s request to use water cannonRelated: Theresa May rejects Boris Johnson’s request to use water cannon
Ch Supt Barbara Gray’s defence of water cannon comes after the home secretary, Theresa May, blocked a police request, backed by London mayor Boris Johnson, to use water cannon in England and Wales.Ch Supt Barbara Gray’s defence of water cannon comes after the home secretary, Theresa May, blocked a police request, backed by London mayor Boris Johnson, to use water cannon in England and Wales.
On Wednesday night, up to 30 petrol bombs were hurled at police lines in north Belfast during disorder linked to a banned Orange Order parade. From Monday evening, when the Police Service of Northern Ireland enforced the ban, loyalist rioters attacked officers with bricks, bottles, stones and large pieces of masonry. Loyalist youths also used catapults to fire thick metal bolts at police and the media on the Woodvale Road.On Wednesday night, up to 30 petrol bombs were hurled at police lines in north Belfast during disorder linked to a banned Orange Order parade. From Monday evening, when the Police Service of Northern Ireland enforced the ban, loyalist rioters attacked officers with bricks, bottles, stones and large pieces of masonry. Loyalist youths also used catapults to fire thick metal bolts at police and the media on the Woodvale Road.
Water cannon was used on Monday night during the most serious violence, to force back a crowd of rioting loyalists at nearby Twaddell Avenue following an incident in which an Orangeman is accused of driving his car into a group of nationalists gathered at the Catholic Ardoyne district across the road.Water cannon was used on Monday night during the most serious violence, to force back a crowd of rioting loyalists at nearby Twaddell Avenue following an incident in which an Orangeman is accused of driving his car into a group of nationalists gathered at the Catholic Ardoyne district across the road.
“We have seen clear evidence during some of the most difficult periods of disorder experienced in Northern Ireland how the use of it can be effective in controlling those involved in rioting and intent on causing injury,” Gray said.“We have seen clear evidence during some of the most difficult periods of disorder experienced in Northern Ireland how the use of it can be effective in controlling those involved in rioting and intent on causing injury,” Gray said.
She continued: “Officers authorised to use the water cannons are provided with rigorous training to ensure all safety implications are considered and all use is approved at a senior command level.She continued: “Officers authorised to use the water cannons are provided with rigorous training to ensure all safety implications are considered and all use is approved at a senior command level.
“Warnings are issued before the water cannons are deployed and there has been no evidence of serious injury caused.“Warnings are issued before the water cannons are deployed and there has been no evidence of serious injury caused.
“We always remain mindful of the community impact that the use of water cannon may have in an area but the safety of the wider public and our police officers will always be our priority.”“We always remain mindful of the community impact that the use of water cannon may have in an area but the safety of the wider public and our police officers will always be our priority.”
Several dozen PSNI officers were injured in four nights of violence including one police inspector who had his ear severed when he was hit with masonry on Monday evening. Another policeman on the same night had to have 16 stitches after a rioting loyalist bit his finger. Several dozen PSNI officers were injured in four nights of violence, including one police inspector who had his ear severed when he was hit with masonry on Monday evening. Another policeman on the same night had to have 16 stitches after a rioting loyalist bit his finger.