Mayor Johnson’s unused water cannon sold for scrap at £300,000 loss to taxpayer

THREE water cannon bought by Boris Johnson for more than £320,000 when he was London mayor have been sold for just £11,025.

Sadiq Khan, Mr Johnson’s successor as mayor, said yesterday: “We have managed to finally get rid of them.” The machines were bought by Mr Johnson from Germany in 2014, before their use had been licensed on the British mainland.

Theresa May, when she was home secretary, banned their use in riot situations in 2015, and in 2016 used them to ridicule Mr Johnson in the Tory leadership race after David Cameron resigned.

The cannon cost £322,000 to purchase second-hand and refit, including £32,004 for low-emission zone compliance; £19,035 for repainting; and £3,109.20 for signage. They were sold to Reclamations (Ollerton) Ltd of Nottinghamshire, which will dismantle them and export the parts.

Mr Khan said: “This has been another waste of taxpayers’ money by Boris Johnson.”

He said the proceeds from the sale would help “young people at risk of being affected by crime and giving them better life opportunities”. It is understood that as prime minister Mr Cameron had privately indicated he would license the cannon if there were a repeat of the 2011 riots.

A source close to Mr Johnson said: “Boris made tackling crime his number one priority.”