to wonder why are we pussyfooting around and where's the Army ffs

[ChumleeIsMyHomeboy]

It's out of control now and surely such Armed Forces as we have left should be getting right in there putting a stop to it? At the moment there is no reason at all for restraint. I'm shocked - and I lived through the '76 riots in Johannesburg.

[minibmw2010]

Its quite possible that will happen but the majority of the army will be based outside of London and would still need to travel etc.

[timidviper]

Could the fact our armed forces have been cut in numbers and are fighting pointless wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc have something to do with that? There's hardly millions of them sitting around twiddling their thumbs

[SecretNutellaFix]

the main issue is that Theresa May won't give the police the order to move in.

[ChumleeIsMyHomeboy]

I don't for one moment think they are sat around twiddling their thumbs timid - do you think that? However - this is as close to civil unrest - maybe even war - as we've been for a long long time and the Police cannot cope.

[ChumleeIsMyHomeboy]

Secret - is that true and if so why?

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

The army is deployed all over the world and the water cannon is in N.I.

Good to know that certain policitians' holidays are being fucked but, of course,, they'll simply resume their life of luxury at a later date unlike the poor souls who've lost everything they possess thanks to rampaging morons.

[swingingcat]

Most of the Armed Forces are rather busy elsewhere in the world!
In times of crisis the call goes up for the Armed Forces to sort it out, maybe support for the Armed Forces needs to be upped?

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

IF it's true, the reason is obvious.

[canyou]

According to sky news Civil Liberties, injuring innocent people/children being sued and the fact that COBRA have to meet tomorrow morning are the reasons for not using robust methods

[janelikesjam]

the thing is, if the army have to get involved, it looks bad, really bad. on the international landscape.

so I have no idea to be honest, what decisions will be made.

either way, it will be political, very political at that. and if things get worse, the Tories will pay the price for handling this badly. I am not sure what they are up to.

[SecretNutellaFix]

As Home Secretary, she needs to authorise more than standard methods of peacekeeping. Which riot police are on this scale.

[Pan]

I think COBRA will demand police from unaffected areas (non-urban forces) well before the army being asked. The riots of 1981 were much more widespread ( so far) and dire than this episode and the army made no show. It's also v v high risk. Army people are not trained in urban rioting techniques. They'll also prob. want to take their guns wit hthem.

[AuntiePickleBottom]

what does thias say to the rest of the world.....the olymics are fast approching

[ShellyBoobs]

The army won't be going anywhere near this. There are more than enough police to take control, if they're deployed.

It's the police who are the experts in this sort of situation, not the armed forces. Unless you're expecting the government to have all the rioters shot?

[Tiredmumno1]

Now they are needed, they should be here, the police cant cope

[canyou]

Jane I am not in UK at the moment, it is headline news, main story on the news here tbh it could not look any worse if the military went in to support the police.

[thisisyesterday]

they're already deploying police from outside london, i know cos my friend is waiting to be called, and she said other officers are already up there

[EdithWeston]

MACP can only be called in if a Govt Department requests it.

It's nice to see appreciation of, and faith in, the Armed Forces.

I am rather ambivalent about having the military taking over policing. But I wouldn't have difficulty with using them to protect fire and ambulance crews (freeing police to do the policing).

[Bohica]

Nothing has been done in the past & nothing is being done now.
Take the Army out of it as they are to far away fighting other peoples battles for too many years now.

Our police are dammned when they are seen as too forecefull & dammned when they are seen as not taking a heavy hand.

The meassage is that parents should make their children come home & THAT is the main message that needs tackling imo.

[SecretNutellaFix]

I'm not damning the police- their hands are tied.

[MogandMe]

I love the way mnet are usually so anti army and then expect them to come save the day.

The army are pretty busy whether here or over seas and currently it's not their role. There are plenty of police - what will the army do that's not already being done.

And why do you think they'll want to bring their guns?

[ShellyBoobs]

Tiredmumno1 - The police service CAN cope. They just haven't been deployed in large numbers. Yet.

[Pan]

yes but much more, thisis - not just neighbouring forces. The army would be IF the police can't handle this in the next few days, or it speards to posh areas, or if there are any deaths.