Tottenham Riots

[arabiantwilight]

I often get this sort of news late being overseas, but once again i find myself scratching my head at the world

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14435251

Do the rioters genuinely believe that they will make there community better by wrecking it? More to the point how many are just "along for the ride"?

Tottenham really has had it bad over the years - and I can't see it getting any better soon

[sahil]

Wow place looks worse than I thought it would. While I don't think much of this really has to do with the shooting, more like a few pissed people started the original scuffle outside the station and then everyone else jumped in at the chance of free stuff and a fight, but I don't get why "the community" is pissed at the killing?

[Carmella14]

Osu,


This is the first and civilized world...
More action coming soon, and in the USA too...


Osu!

[adorable_labs_4_life]

This is what happens when you don't kettle tense protests.

[Elphabaâ„¢]

But then protestors might not be allowed out to pee

[keatonb]

The impression I get isn't that the protestors started looting. It's that a lot of scumbags took advantage of the scuffle to start looting.

Even if the police had kettled the protestors, the looting would have started outside the kettle since they are different groups of people.


I can't tell if you're being sarcastic there. Are you saying the police are right to hold people and not "let them out to pee" just for protesting?

[jmvcowgirlsr07]

You assume that the two groups are completely isolated. They aren't. The looting was probably triggered by the outbreak of violence at the protest. If the Police had prevented the outbreak of violence, by for example, kettling them, looters wouldn't have been able to take advantage of the public disorder.

A lot of police officers were injured yesterday. If that could have been prevented at the cost of a few full bladders, isn't that a good tradeoff.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. What I really have a problem with is the media blaming the police for not doing the very things that they were being criticised for a few months ago.

[GENefire]

It is one of those occasions where I wonder "Why do I bother?" - my job is something I enjoy immensely, but is it worth the associated flak and crap?

The I remember that most people actually like the Thin Blue Line and it reminds me that a few vocal morons will not stop me doing what I do and doing it well.

[karmaeiris]

I believe kettling is a viable containment method if there's a high risk of violence. First thing I heard about this, and before the proper burning and looting took place, was that riot police were being deployed outside the police station. If its enough to bring out the shields and batons then I'm not going to complain about containment.

I'm not saying it should be used all the time and there were times it was used poorly but I heard quite a bit of calling for its ban just because the evil policemen inconvenienced protesters. I put the blanket anti-kettling stuff in league with the news stories about mums complaining their kids took a smack from a riot officer in the middle of a riot.

[PATRICKL]

Had a FB message from a friend that lives in Haringay area. They are trying to get Enfield rioting as well.

Sort of reminds me of the early 80' with Toxteth and Brixton.