British police are considering the possible use of plastic bullets against rioters in London for the first time ever in a British disturbance, a senior police official said on Tuesday.
"The use of any tactics will be considered carefully," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said.
London police has refrained from using any riot control weapons or firearms against rioters in the past three days. However, an emergency COBRA meeting resolved that harsher measures are needed to curb the rioting.
Member of Parliament David Lammy called to suspend BlackBerry Messenger service some rioters are using to organize their actions.
About 60% of all the United Kingdom's police force were deployed in London. A record number of police, 16,000, will be on duty in the capital over the next 24 hours.
Hundreds of people were arrested Monday night after looting, violence and arson spread across London and other cities. Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the British parliament would be recalled from summer recess.
A total of 44 officers were injured and Scotland Yard received over 20,000 emergency calls, four times more than usual.
