Police should be given clear rules about when they can use water cannon and plastic bullets against rioters, a watchdog has said

But officers could lawfully have shot arsonists in some cases during the summer rioting in England, the Inspectorate of Constabulary said.

Water cannon and plastic bullets could have been used in a "number of real scenarios", its report suggested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16265551

Metropolitan Police Officers at tomorrow's student protests in London will have the right to fire plastic bullets at protesters, it has emerged this week.

The demonstration, endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS), is the second major protest against the rise in university tuition fees in as many years.

In 2012/13, the University of Southampton will be charging prospective students £9,000 per year, the maximum allowed, for tuition.

http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/headline/2011/11/08/met-police-authorised-t...