[T-Man]

You may not may not be aware that England is kind of having 'some problems' with riots right now (See under "Jesus London looks like the Somme!")

Just wanted to pass on to my fellow HLPers like Karajorma; if you live in any of the affected places, stay safe alright?

Cheers

[achtung]

In the middle-east it's a peaceful protest.

In London, it's a riot.

[headdie]

To be fair we aren't used to shops being set ablaze in the UK, a few cars and vans we are used to but not anything beyond that

[Flipside]

Well, I as I said earlier, I'm in Enfield, though fortunately far enough away from lootable shops to not be at great risk. Funny that isn't it, the rioting only happens where there's shops with windows to smash and stuff to steal?

[headdie]

Now to quote a mate

Packed my bags and got a one way ticket to Syria. It's too dangerous here.

also

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london-riots+content/video?cmp=OTCNEWTXT8124


edit

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

[JCDNWarrior]

It could get a lot worse because the police is reportedly standing down and letting it happen. If you're in London, arm yourself with something and be safe.

[achtung]

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

So these are all a bunch of welfare leeches running around?

[headdie]

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

So these are all a bunch of welfare leeches running around?

even if they are on working tax credits do you want them receiving them?

[Flipside]

Not really, that's just usual UK habit, to assume everyone who is unemployed is like a guest on the Jeremy Kyle show.

The horizon here is mostly smoke from the Sony Warehouse that was set alight (it's about 30 mins from here), and all the shops have closed early. Personally, whilst the Police are worried about vigilante justice, part of me would like to see it in this case, the rioters claim they are angry at the Police, yet most of their attacks seem to be aimed at innocent bystanders (including robbing a young child whilst he was on the pavement bleeding heavily from the face), so I'd like to see the public drawing the line if the Police cannot.

[achtung]

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

So these are all a bunch of welfare leeches running around?

even if they are on working tax credits do you want them receiving them?

Cutting these people off will only make them more desperate, resulting in more riots, resulting in more filled jail cells, resulting in more distaste for the police, resulting in more riots, resulting in more people cut off...

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[StarSlayer]

Don't you have National Guard or something to deploy for these situations?  If the cops are unable to lock it down and you're on the verge of having some rumble between shop keepers and looters it'll turn into a blood bath.

[Flipside]

Well, part of the irony of the matter is that these so-called riots are supposed to be about the Police arrest, survelliance and search procedures, which is kind of humorous if you consider that these events will basically result in the Police being gifted with more funding, powers and free-reign when dealing with potentially violent offenders. So, in essence, these riots are actually achieving the exact opposite of what was intended.

If they continue for any period of time, there are certain special powers that can be granted, and we are back to the days to Water Cannons and Rubber bullets. Then maybe we'll have a Police State on a par with the early 80's again.

[JCDNWarrior]

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

So these are all a bunch of welfare leeches running around?

even if they are on working tax credits do you want them receiving them?

Cutting these people off will only make them more desperate, resulting in more riots, resulting in more filled jail cells, resulting in more distaste for the police, resulting in more riots, resulting in more people cut off...

Wash, rinse, repeat.

This is how you can use the welfare state as a weapon against the middle class and also justify a growing police state in response. People will welcome a military police intervention.

[headdie]

Someone has set up a petition on the HM Government website to stop the benefits of anyone committing an offence during the riots
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337

So these are all a bunch of welfare leeches running around?

even if they are on working tax credits do you want them receiving them?

Cutting these people off will only make them more desperate, resulting in more riots, resulting in more filled jail cells, resulting in more distaste for the police, resulting in more riots, resulting in more people cut off...

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Fair enough that's all stuff the politicians will need to discuss.  With any luck the discussion of loosing benefits will put most of them off

[666maslo666]

If the police does not take decisive action soon, it will be a matter of time until this repeats again. These people have little respect for authority, and it is only diminishing even more the longer this continues. Why dont they call the army for help, if the police is too weak?

[Grizzly]

Well, I as I said earlier, I'm in Enfield, though fortunately far enough away from lootable shops to not be at great risk. Funny that isn't it, the rioting only happens where there's shops with windows to smash and stuff to steal?

Because everyone knows where those things are and thus, they make for excellent meeting points? .

If the police does not take decisive action soon, it will be a matter of time until this repeats again. These people have little respect for authority, and it is only diminishing even more the longer this continues. Why dont they call the army for help, if the police is too weak?

Because the army is not adept at using non lethal tactics. Lethal tactics tend to intensify riots. The police is not all that weak either, but the primary function of the police is to protect (civilians and themselves, even if those civilians are rioting).

[Flipside]

Heh, well, we've got groups of kids walking into shopping centres, smashing windows, looting stuff and running off, so there's no real doubt as to what the intentions are in most cases

[swashmebuckle]

All those surveillance cameras that creeped me out so much have failed to dissuade looting?  I recommend issuing portcullises to all small businesses.  It's the historically informed thing to do, and definitely cheaper than digging moats.

[starbug]

Trouble has started to sprout in other citys, Nottingham, Bristol, Birmingham, manchester and Liverpool.  I wonder how long before Cameron brings in the troops!

[headdie]

Don't you have National Guard or something to deploy for these situations?  If the cops are unable to lock it down and you're on the verge of having some rumble between shop keepers and looters it'll turn into a blood bath.

Not really, the usual procedure is to bring in riot trained police, the problem is that there just not enough of them in the metropolitan area so they are having to draft them in from other forces which as usual take a couple of days to do the paperwork.