I predict a riot

Well, wouldn't you know it, the Home Office and the Police want to try out a new device that temporarily blinds rioters. A good idea in theory I guess, though their idea of temporary and mine might not gel too closely and you can bet the first person permanently blinded by it will be heading towards compo heaven.
Telegraph.

A shoulder-mounted laser that emits a blinding wall of light capable of repelling rioters is to be trialled by police under preparations to prevent a repeat of this summer's looting and arson.
The technology, developed by a former Royal Marine commando, temporarily impairs the vision of anyone who looks towards the source.
It has impressed a division of the Home Office which is testing a new range of devices because of the growing number of violent situations facing the police.
The developer, British-based Photonic Security Systems, hopes to offer the device to shipping companies to deter pirates. Similar devices have been used by ISAF troops in Afghanistan to protect convoys from insurgents.
The laser, resembling a rifle and known as an SMU 100, can dazzle and incapacitate targets up to 500m away with a wall of light up to three metres squared. It costs £25,000 and has an infrared scope to spot looters in poor visibility.
Looking at the intense beam causes a short-lived effect similar to staring at the sun, forcing the target to turn away.
"The system would give police an intimidating visual deterrent. If you can't look at something you can't attack it," said Paul Kerr, the firm's managing director, told The Sunday Times.

I wonder just what it would take for some bright spark to think that a rowdy demo is in fact a riot (in their mind) or for some pissed off copper to decide that a bunch of kids playing loudly need to be dispersed. Not saying it will happen of course, but for every tool that the police bring out, the frustration of those who do not like what the state gets up too at times grows as well.
Not that I approve of rioting or civil disruption, I just feel that in a lot of cases heavy handed policing and ridiculous laws along with a serious attitude problem in both the police and certain groups adds to a very heady brew at times and I really don't want the police to be thinking of these methods or have them deployed for use where they aren't needed. Certainly the recent riots in Tottenham and elsewhere could have been prevented or reduced in scope by the police cracking down hard initially rather than standing back. This, and 3 water cannon plus the increased training of police officers in plastic baton round training suggests simply that the government expects a lot more trouble in the future, but from whom and where remains a bit of a mystery, but if the powers that be have it, you can be sure at some stage they'll use it, probably on the wrong group at the wrong time.