to think the police are damned if they do, damned if they don't?

[Empusa]

Loads of people are complaining that the police aren't doing enough to stop the rioting, but god knows what else people want them to do?

If they do use violence against rioters they'd be accused of police brutality.

If they don't they get accused of not doing enough.

Right now there is violence erupting all around the city, and there is a finite number of police officers etc they can call on.

Tbh, considering how insane this all is I think they aren't coping too badly.

Anyone who blames the police for some idiot scum looting and vandalising needs to try thinking.

[goodkate]

I agree completely - I think most sensible people would agree with you and it's about time we used water cannons in this sort of instance.

[Alambil]

I'm all for tazers and rubber bullets.... bring it on.

I think the police put up with far, far too much.

[pantaloons]

goodkate, dh and I are sat here saying exactly the same thing. Water cannons would make a huge difference.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

I think part of the the problem is some of the looters are young kids (7/8/9 years old) and teenagers. They can't win, if a kid got hurt/killed for being somewhere they bloody shouldn't be there'd be hell to pay, they really are utter scum.

[goodkate]

LewisFan - I think we all put up with far too much nonsense and it's really starting to bug me!

[GypsyMoth]

i'm ex met myself....they will draft in help from other areas but i have no idea about water cannons!

[Empusa]

True Apocalypse, read earlier that the youngest person to be arrested so far is 11.

11 FFS?!

[Awomancalledhorse]

Love that Teresa May has come out 'paying tribute' to the Met.
Think they'd rather have the pensions, pay & conditions that they signed up for tbh.

YANBU!!

[Empusa]

IloveTiffany I guess there is also the worry it will spread out of London, leaving other areas under-policed. :(

[squeakytoy]

water cannons and pepper spray, then hard community service rather than a cushy time in prison..

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Yep, parently kids of 7/8 were looting pc world and had a trolley full of laptops/pcs.

And it wouldn't surprise if they're parents are sending them.

[Thruaglassdarkly]

Nope, yanbu. Water canon time...get your swimmies on, yobbos!

[janelikesjam]

the thing I would imagine about water cannons is that they are very powerful ... but don't cause major harm. but if they are drafting in help from other area (Tiffany) I assume you mean other police departments, perhaps this won't be necessary. I think they have underestimated reaction from the beginning, but that will probably change now. Once the Met wakes up they don't about (another siren I hear).

[janelikesjam]

i mean once they wake up they don't MESS about (sorry~missed a word)

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Oh they would tho, the pressure of the water sending people flying some will incur head injuries.

If little Timmy from primary 6 gets hurt there will be hell to play, the police are pretty much stuck.

[GypsyMoth]

well i was from 7 area,but now harrow has kicked off,or about to,i guess i would have been sent to either

we often used to go to central london for trooping the colour,marathon etc as extra help,not unusual

guessing all leave will be cancelled at some point too

[jumpforjoy]

I agree with the water cannons.

I live in the Thames Valley, and our policemen have been called in to help.

[singforsupper]

I think if they had done a better job at the first riot in Tottenham it wouldn't have kicked off elsewhere. They simply left them to get on with it at the retail park in Tottenham Hale.

These kids need to be brought under control - they are only doing this because they can and the police is letting them. If they want to protest they should go to Westminster and do it. This is just looting and it's been endorsed by the police being passive about it.

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Spot on empusa.

Have heard there is trouble in Birmingham now.

[CeliaFate]

If you're there, you're complicit in violence, vandalism and robbery and don't deserve any sympathy. The police need to be given stronger measures to deal with this. The scum that are doing this are not scared of any consequences.

[BustySinclair]

those who complained about heavy handed tactics previously are now whinnying about them not doing enough

frankly i would have had the water cannons out months ago

[squeakytoy]

Simple answer, if they arent looting or rioting, they wont get hit with a water cannon. Anyone with any sense is staying indoors out of harms way. If people are out there, masked, throwing rocks, and generally behaving in a threatening manner, drench the buggers.

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Sing - the police arent letting them do this! There are just too many pockets of violence and rioting for them to be everywhere! You really think the police are endorsing it .....? Yeah ok.

[goodkate]

I think TM should call the French and get all the water cannons she can lay her hands on! They could be in London in 6 hours - This is serious stuff and I know times are hard for some people BUT this is not the way to behave.

We need to scare the shit out of these bastards.

[fedupofnamechanging]

The French spray rioters with ink, so they can round them up later.

Children out looting ought to be rounded up and put in the care of SS - their parents are obviously useless fuckers who don't deserve to keep their children.

Time to send the army in imo and start using plastic bullets. A strong message needs to be sent that this kind of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.