Obama bans military-style equipment for US police

US President Barack Obama on Monday announced a plan to ban the federal government from providing military-style equipment to local police departments, the New York Times reported.

Obama said that Washington would also put stricter controls on other weapons and gear distributed to law enforcement.

The White House said that the federal government will no longer fund or provide armoured vehicles that run on a tracked system instead of wheels, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, firearms or ammunition of .50-caliber or higher, grenade launchers, bayonets or camouflage uniforms.

The federal government is also exploring ways to recall prohibited equipment already distributed.

In addition, a longer list of equipment the federal government provides will come under tighter control, including wheeled armoured vehicles such as Humvees, manned aircraft, drones, explosives, battering rams and riot batons.