Probably all of us heard about August’s unrest in London and other British cities that suffered from riots attended by looting and arson a year before the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
What are the peculiarities and threats of the UK riots?
According to the West European Association of Traders and Investors, , on Tuesday, August 4th, the police shot Mark Duggan when trying to arrest him in Tottenham, London. 2 days later, on August 6th, a group of almost 200 people started a protest demanding for justice and explanations. 12 hours later the protest grew in a full-scale riot attended by looting and arson. As a result the protesters smashed, looted and burned several local shops.
Lesson 1: chain reaction. Unfortunately the first night of riots was not the last one. The wave of violence only escalated during the next few days while spreading over other districts of London and even other English cities (there were no riots in Scotland , Wales or Northern Ireland). A lot of vehicles and buildings were set on fire. Most protesters were seen scuffling with the police and looting shops.
Lesson 2: Numerous observers were amazed at how well-organized the looters were. They were quick and did their job before the police appeared. Later it turned out that the looters had communicated through social networks Facebook and Twitter. However the riots were coordinated through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) as Blackberry smartphones are very popular with the British youth. The police couldn’t trace those messages, unlike ordinary SMS. The stolen products were actively sold through eBay.
Lesson3: The police were confused and helpless. During the first night of unrest there were no police in the streets. Then they appeared without guns, armed only with truncheons and shields. Yet they were outnumbered by protesters. The Prime Minister David Cameron approved the use of water cannons only after a few days of riots. Another striking example of Scotland Yard’s helplessness is that David Cameron decided to appoint Bill Bratton, the US “supercop” and the former New York police chief, as his top adviser on gang warfare, which obviously insulted British policemen.
Lesson4: “colour war”. Those who saw some footage of the riots noticed that most rioters were black people. According to Damian Thompson, it is about “the black community, which has lost control of its teenage youths…” and “we should and must blame those schools and education authorities that have made extra space for gang culture in children’s lives because they believe it is an authentic expression of Afro-Caribbean and Asian identity….”
According to The Guardian, one of the BBM messages sent by a rioter said: "Everyone from all sides of London meet up at the heart of London (central) OXFORD CIRCUS!!, Bare SHOPS are gonna get smashed up so come get some (free stuff!!!) fuck the feds we will send them back with OUR riot! >:O Dead the ends and colour war for now so if you see a brother... SALUT! if you see a fed... SHOOT!"
The consequences of the riots:
1. 4 people were killed
2. 111 policemen were injured
3. 2000 protesters were arrested
4. According to David Cameron, the total damage is estimated at 200M pounds. The government had to create a special fund to cover the losses.
Steps taken and conclusions made:
Shortly after the riots David Cameron addressed those who were responsible for the unrest saying that they would feel the power of justice. The police started a wave of arrests, the courts were working day and night, showing no mercy to the rioters. Many experts say that such practice (unavoidable punishment) is wiser as nobody knows what could have happened if the police had turned violent against the protesters during the unrest:
Lesson1: conclusions. According to David Cameron, next time it is necessary:
- to call on the army to help the police
- to use water cannons (there were no precedents)
- to apply rubber bullets (there were no precedents)
- to allow the police to break up demonstrations before the protesters get active
- to deprive the looters and their families of their social homes and social benefits
- to control all the internet social networks
- to spend more funds on security
Lesson2: “zero-tolerance” policy. «Zero tolerance» implies severe punishment even for minor crimes. It was introduced thanks to the US “supercop” Bill Bratton, which jailed about 4000 gangsters. Now the British authorities want to introduce the “zero tolerance” policing to the UK.
Lesson3: rhetoric for the electorate. It should be noted that Cameron has always played the role of “a man of law and order”. His warlike rhetoric now completely corresponds to the UK’s public sentiment as after the recent unrest people need a “strong hand” and they want the police to be really powerful and efficient. However, David Cameron and his political party’s rating was damaged. People mainly sympathize with the police, mainly because they were trying to hold back the rioters with their hands tied behind their back while the Prime Minister was having a rest in Italy.
Considering the reasons:
During one of his speeches on the riots David Cameron named the following causes of the riots:
“Irresponsibility. Selfishness. Behaving as if your choices have no consequences. Children without fathers. Schools without discipline. Reward without effort. Crime without punishment. Rights without responsibilities. Communities without control. Some of the worst aspects of human nature tolerated, indulged - sometimes even incentivised - by a state and its agencies that in parts have become literally de-moralised…”
Common British citizen assume that it was the government that created all these social problems by allowing numerous parasites to feed off honest taxpayers. During the days of unrest about 100.000 people signed a petition to deprive the rioters of their homes and even citizenship.
Mass media. Damian Thompson, a British journalist and the Blogs Editor of the Telegraph Media Group, wrote an article called “London riots: This is what happens when multiculturalists turn a blind eye to gang culture”, in which he wrote the following: “We are seeing a lot of black faces on our screens tonight; it’s a shame that the spotlight can’t also fall on those white multiculturalists who made this outrage possible.”
Market Leader and would appreciate it if you could participate in a survey. Please, visit the Academy’s forum form traders and investors and answer the following question:
Should the British authorities be blamed for the recent UK riots?
