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.

I certainly agree, re. putting such children in the care of social security.

Our police are weak and pathetic. If this was happening in Northern Ireland they would get the water cannons out and use plastic bullets, over here it's let the fuckers have their free for all.

This isn't a peaceful protest. Send in the heavies.

Now, I don't know what the police can do. On the first night, they sat and 'contained' whilst people were burnt out of their homes.

Fabby I don't think the police are weak or pathetic. They're constrained by beaurocracy and the limits set by the government upon them. How would you feel, facing up to that scum, armed with a plastic shield and a baton?

YANBU OP. Spray with ink, I like that idea :)

Completely agree empusa

Fabby, how dare you call our police "weak and pathetic?" What a disgusting comment. The police do their absolute best to serve this country within the confines that are placed on them. What a bloody ridiculous thing to say.

The water cannons aren't going to make that much difference, they are very restricted as to what "power" they can push through them for safety reasons. The power of the water is not allowed to knock people off their feet. DH is a fan of the ink, same stuff they put in money.

The police are weak and pathetic. They are so sacred of offending the 'community' that it is seen as a green light to go rioting and looting. This violence isn't happening because of injustice or because people feel disaffected - it's happening because the criminal element has been handed on a plate the opportunity to go looting. I'm upset by injustice and pissed off with the state of the nation, but I haven't set fire to Greggs or nicked myself a pair of trainers from JD Sports!

One of the reasons that the police have had their powers reduced is because they have been known to lie and fit people up and pick on people for no reason. When you see them attacking people who protest peacefully it explains why no one trusts them. the criminal element are currently exploiting this sorry state of affairs.

What we need is an honest, accountable police force and for the army to come home and deal with this shit.

Karm and Fabby - blame the governmment, not the police.

Karma - what crap.

Karma, I agree with your comment about the army, and I also accept what you say about police in the past behaving shamefully. No-one could pretend that didn't ever or doesn;t ever happen. But for your average young police man or woman out on the streets of London/Brum wherever tonight, I think calling them and what they stand for "pathetic and weak" is pretty poor.

ButWhy, I do agree that there are a lot of hard working and honest police officers doing their absolute best. But, you rarely see the bad apples brought to account for the lies and bullying that do occur, which leads the public to have a mixed impression of them. It doesn't encourage the trust and faith that are absolutely necessary to an effective police force. To some degree they have been hoist by their own petard.

cook which bits are crap?

"One of the reasons that the police have had their powers reduced is because they have been known to lie and fit people up and pick on people for no reason."

What powers have they had reduced?

I do feel sorry for police out there tonight, dealing with rioters. they need more support and power to deal with this than they are likely to get.

We should treat them with the contempt they deserve why cant the police use water cannons? Why can't they use plastic bullets? Why are they just letting buildings burn to the ground. Bring in the army.

cook, they've lost the power to deal with these rioters forcefully without being accused of heavy handedness. Being heavy handed in the past towards the wrong people has put them in a weakened position now, when they really do need to crack down.

Karma, in any ANY hierarchical (sp?) organisation including the army right down to small county councils etc there is inevitable corruption and poor behaviour. People cannot help themselves. I see the point you are making about needing a decent and honourable police force, but it's just not possible. Power always corrupts. As it is, we've got to rely on our current police and I am personally bloody grateful they are willing to put their lives on the line to protect innocent people from this shit.

They have never had the power to deal with rioters forcefully. And now it is human rights and compensation culture shit.

I would be happy for anyone to give every single fucker out turning this place into a war zone a bloody good kicking from me.

Sure, human nature means you will always get corruption. But when it is exposed, these people should face the full force of the law as we would do. Instead it seems to be covered up and glossed over and whistle blowers are cowed into submission.

agree with you there cook

I think these events are a turning point for the way our country operates. Hopefully no longer a soft touch in every sense.

I see Cameron is on his way home.

about fucking time

I think the police have done a brilliant job so far, but now I think it is time to escalate.

Send in the Army and the armed police. How much of the city has to be destroyed before they are stopped. An innocent person will loose their life soon.

What a bunch of complete wankers, they deserve all they get. The police should be armed when dealing with something on this scale