MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Obama bans supply of military-style equipments to local police forces

In Ferguson and in Baltimore protests turned violent, but the sight of police dressed in camouflage and riot gear dealing with protests provoked criticism.

President Barack Obama has banned the US government from giving certain kinds of military-style equipment to local police forces. The announcement follows criticism that police were too heavy handed in dealing with protests in Ferguson, Missouri, that turned violent last summer.

 This means armored vehicles on tracks, camouflage uniforms and grenade launchers will no longer be given out.

Tensions between police and African-American communities are strained. A series of fatal shootings by police have increased mistrust and sparked protests across the US.

In Ferguson and in Baltimore, those protests turned violent, with looting and arson. But the sight of police dressed in camouflage and riot gear dealing with protests provoked a storm of criticism.

The White House wants police to retain equipment they need to maintain public order. But a review showed five federal agencies spent 18bn dollars on programs that gave them 92,442 small arms, 44,275 night-vision devices, 5,235 Humvees, 617 mine-resistant vehicles and 616 aircraft.

The study said there was a “substantial risk of misusing or overusing” gear like tracked armored vehicles, and their presence could undermine trust in police. According to the latest decision, implements to be banned include: armored vehicles that run on a tracked system instead of wheels; armed aircraft, ships or vehicles; firearms or ammunition of .50-calibre or higher; grenade launchers; bayonets and camouflage uniforms.

Those still allowed include: airplanes, helicopters and drones; wheeled armored vehicles; wheeled tactical vehicles, such as Humvees and 5-ton trucks; command and control vehicles; explosives and pyrotechnics plus riot helmets, shields and extra-large batons.