Mahroof Hussain urges use of rubber bullets to quell rioting: VOTE

A ROTHERHAM councillor called for strong action in a week when the UK was plagued by city centre riots, saying it was “time for police to start using rubber bullets to defend property and local communities.”

Cllr Mahroof Hussain spoke out on Twitter following a week of trouble around the country in which three people were killed.

His comments came after police in Rotherham moved to scotch rumours of rioting in the town, saying that such stories were “unhelpful” and causing unecessary fear.

Several messages were posted on social networking site Twitter on Tuesday, stating that riot vans had been in several areas of the town, as Manchester and the West Midlands were hit by looters and 16,000 police were made available in London following three nights of disruption.

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But South Yorkshire Police issued a statement which said: “Rumours suggesting disorder in South Yorkshire are not true,  are unhelpful and are causing unecessary fear in our communities.

“The force hopes its communities continue to stand together peacefully.”

The police also had a warning for anyone consideration copycat disorder, adding:

“Our message to anyone considering causing distruption is don’t.”

“We will respond in a robust and appropriate manner.”

Cllr Mahroof Hussain on Twitter. Click here.

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