To wonder if there isn't, in fact, some government involvement in all this riot malarkey?

[solidgoldbrass]

The legacy of Murdoch, Mandelson, Blair and Campbell is an ongoing demonstration of how easy and useful it is to manipulate the general public. So removing as many civil liberties as they fancy is going to be an awful lot easier when everyone is terrified of rioting yoot.Given that the policing of demonstrations has been getting heavier and heavier, it's funny that the police seem to have been doing basically bugger all when the riots kick off, and now everyone's being told that Calling IN THe Army is the way to go...

I thought the same earlier Edith.

we shall see, EdithWeston. I am just wondering about the whole thing. you may be right. Unfortunately I have been drinking and frightened and I cannot sleep.

OP

''it's funny that the police seem to have been doing basically bugger all when the riots kick off, and now everyone's being told that Calling IN THe Army is the way to go...''

Have little or nothing to do with the police, myself. Most probably like you?But generally don't like them.

I see them trying really really hard against the odds to keep us safe, tonight,

I feel quite humbled and ashamed.

People are going to start dying soon.

The police are going to have to start shooting.

Then it is all going to go to hell.

I am so sorry this is happening. It must be so terrifying for the people in London.

Theresa May has just been on BBC ruling out use of the military.

BTW - hunch was at least partly right. The mobs around Lavender Hill were finally dispersed last night by something the BBC are characterising as a firmer response, which may be the model should there be further disturbances.

I would have thought the sensible next move would be some kind of curfew. Anything more heavy-handed on the part of the police would not be sensible because the looters comprise many teens and younger children. However, the amount of bystanders stood around snapping away on their mobile phones can't be helping the problem.

Morloth - that is my thinking too. Terrifying for the country as a whole because it keeps spreading. Where it will end I don't know.

As for the people causing the trouble, they have no excuse, no fucking excuse at all. They live in a country of amazing opportunity, where no one starves, where health care and education are free. The rioters are a minority of fuckwits who have so little empathy for their neighbours and their community that they are happy to loot and destroy everything in their path.