Ships can now be armed against pirates
A ban on ships carrying weapons is to be relaxed in order to protect vessels against Somali pirates.
The Prime Minister said radical action was required because the increasing ability of seabourne Somali criminals to hijack and ransom ships had become ‘a complete stain on our world’.
He unveiled the measure after talks at a Commonwealth summit in Australia with leaders of countries in the Horn of Africa about the escalating problem, reports the Telegraph newspaper.
Under the plans, the Home Secretary would be able to license commercial vessels to carry armed security which is not currently allowed under firearms law.
Around 200 ships are likely to be able to take up the offer which would only apply for journeys through particular waters in that region.
This follows a spate of attacks in the area including the abduction of Briton Judith Tebbutt from a coastal resort after her husband was killed.
By Diane Evans
Diane
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