None of us really know what happened so we can't say with any authority. All I know is that if I was in a room with a suspected armed criminal I doubt I'd have the courage to wait for him to shoot first. The onus is on the police to be as sure as they can be that they've got the right man, but in that light it's hardly surprising if they shoot first and check later. They would, of course, never admit that that's their policy- but they're hardly going to wait and see if one of them gets it first.
Ok, but I personally don't think we have any police officers who would see someone sitting in a cab unarmed and just blow his brains out - there MUST be more to it. The Menezes case is a whole different debate for another day.
I was agreeing with this 'til I got to the highlighted bit. How can burning down shops at random and putting at risk the lives of innocent people be regarded as "taking a stand"? All the points you make regarding the lack of any coherent social policy to prevent these things happening are true- and then some- but how that justifies indiscriminate acts of violence is beyond me I'm afraid.
It is a shame. But people really need to realise that the rioting is simply a sympton of the real problem. Without the cause of the problem being sorted the symptoms will keep re-appearing. Similar to if you are ill, until you are treated you will have symptoms. If you have an illness - is it because of the aches and pains? No, it is because you have caught or developed an illness. The illness will go once treated, if not it wont go (a very simple comparison, but in my opinion a very similar straight forward one). Simply put this behaviour is purely a sympton of a very troubled government. This has absolutely nothing to do with kids rioting on the streets - if only it was that simple.
Sound mate. To be fair about the rioting and looting the metropolitan police have'nt got a clue how to stop it or the numbers to quell it and the scumbags know it,they organised last nights targets on the Blackberry network.
Difference being that those idiotic students had a right to protest (although it got out of hand) whereas as these 'council estate' pricks have nothing to protest. They're using the excuse of Duggan so they can cause havoc and thieve!
I know it is extreme behaviour. The kids feel they have no future ahead of them, therfore have no social status. Acting in such ways, therofore becomes an easy outlet for them as what have they got to lose? Nothing. If you live in a nice friendly suburb then fair enough. But please get real - these kids have resorted to serious gang crime and it is normal behaviour now, and for many it is the ONLY way to get an income. Far more than it ever has been, the streets are a jungle these days. I know this as i work with young criminals on a daily basis (forensic psychologist in one of the busiest YOI's in the country). This is the only option they feel they have - burning shops down etc is awful, but for this generation where violence and gun crime is common practice then this behaviour is not as extreme to them as it seems to us. They have simply had enough - and is that their fault? No.
"got out of hand" The students were "rioters" and never had the right to "riot" which is what they did,and as such are no better than the scumbags that have rioted since saturday.
Lol probably 'right to riot' wasn't the best phrase. But what I meant was they had a reason to 'protest' which led to the riots. And you're right, they are no better than idiots who were involved.
I really don't want to get into a prolonged argument over this Sky, because I agree with your assessment of the problem for these kids, but cannot agree with your absolution of their behaviour because of it. Successive governments have signally failed in their attempts to deal with the problems of inner city areas and must take their share of responsibility. However, this in no way justifies attacks on other innocent people- in the same way that unjust treatment of Palestinians does not justify blowing up a plane-load of tourists. The responsibility to treat everyone with respect falls equally on us all- from the government at the top to the kids on the street at the bottom.
Trouble is lads, it's not just kids: "Twenty-three people have appeared before magistrates at Camberwell Green in south London charged with offences connected to last night's rioting in Brixton, Streatham and Clapham. The 20 men and three women ranged in age from 18 to 47. Twenty-two were charged with entering electrical goods and clothing shops with intent to steal goods. One man was charged with assaulting a police officer. They have been remanded in custody to appear in court at a later date." Taken from BBC News
Yeah i do agree with you on most points. The last sentence in a sense sums the problem up - the government show absolutely no respect for the kids. How are the kids going to learn from leaders that are cheating two faced white collar criminals. The government has shirked all responsibilities so how can people now blame these kids? The government just have ways to hide issues - that is the only difference. The government need to lead by example - and have failed on every single level.
Probably opportunists - lets face it if people are skint and they live a London lifestyle then a free TV is a pretty decent acquisition
3 rubber clad masochistic Evertonian fetishists caught in JJB Sports during the riots last night. please log in to view this image
