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Aug. 9th, 2011 10:17 amVery glad to see friends in London safe today, let's hope it stays that way - last night was unbelievable.
I'm not going to even try to compare it to what happens here because it was totally different in character - here rioters are trying to get at *each other* or the police - there isn't looting or even the arson/property destruction here any more.
Also the police have adopted a controversial new tactic of containing them, letting them get on with it while they take photos then turning on the water cannon. Arrests are then made at their leisure a few weeks later, because apparently arrests at the time can 'antagonise them' and make things worse... I can in a way see logic in this but its still pretty WTF.
It does tho make Teresa May's statement this morning somewhat baffling -
The way we police in Britain is not with water cannon. The way we police in Britain is on the streets and with the communities.
er...
That's from LAST MONTH.
On a brighter note the #riotcleanup on twitter has gathered momentum amazingly quickly and together with endless tweets urging people to check on elderly/disabled neighbours is truly inspirational and hopefully a sign that you won't end up like here, where riots are just a regular part of life that people shrug and get on with.
I'm not going to even try to compare it to what happens here because it was totally different in character - here rioters are trying to get at *each other* or the police - there isn't looting or even the arson/property destruction here any more.
Also the police have adopted a controversial new tactic of containing them, letting them get on with it while they take photos then turning on the water cannon. Arrests are then made at their leisure a few weeks later, because apparently arrests at the time can 'antagonise them' and make things worse... I can in a way see logic in this but its still pretty WTF.
It does tho make Teresa May's statement this morning somewhat baffling -
The way we police in Britain is not with water cannon. The way we police in Britain is on the streets and with the communities.
er...
That's from LAST MONTH.
On a brighter note the #riotcleanup on twitter has gathered momentum amazingly quickly and together with endless tweets urging people to check on elderly/disabled neighbours is truly inspirational and hopefully a sign that you won't end up like here, where riots are just a regular part of life that people shrug and get on with.
