How close do you think we are to looting?

[DoubleAction]

DS has a lot of friends in the Army. They're all on standby and being briefed on how to deal with looters.

What do you think? Just a precaution or the powers that be really think they will be needed?

7 weeks-ish.

Hopefully just a precaution. There isn't a supply problem it's a panic buying people problem. But hey people are still panic buying so I wouldn't put it past them.

That’s a load of bollocks and you know it is!

I don't think they're expecting looting because people are desperate, more because if everything's shut, there will be opportunity.

I've just sent ds2 to meet my brother to 'borrow' toilet roll
I was actually genuinely worried he might get attacked for it on the way home

Me? Ihate? I dont know anything of the sort. DS is in regular contact with old school friends and this is what more than one has told him.

I think it is more than likely certain elements will take advantage in the coming weeks.

It will be fine. People will calm down. We are in Central (ish) London (zone 2) and it was so much calmer today. Did an almost normal shop in a quietish store. People keeping their distance, all fine.

It feels scary but will become normal soon. People are working themselves up into a pitch of anxiety, and it's so bad for MH.

It's awful. But we should follow advice, keep calm, look out for one another and we will get through this.

Threads like this are really unhelpful.

I agree that sadly there would probably be opportunistic looting if most of the shops shut.

I promise you. The last people to know if they are being deployed are soldiers. So any rumours are just rubbish.

Soldiers may be deployed to protect food production sites/ transport food etc. if things get much worse

All these posts here and on social media about someone knowing someone's friend in the army/NHS/police and having inside information are beginning to get a bit tiresome. Operations like these are not the sort of things those who are genuinely in the know natter about down the pub (when they were open!). I'm not saying there won't be looters, and we all know the army is ready to step in when required, but please be mindful of creating extra worry and unease at an already awful time - on the strength of what's no more than gossip, too.

Also, 100% this.

The last people to know if they are being deployed are soldiers. So any rumours are just rubbish

Nah won't happen here

Threads like this are really unhelpful.

Absolutely

And as for posts giving actual timescales like ‘7 weeks ish’

WTAF

What is that based on other than a desire to scare monger?

Not sure. In larger cities probably a few weeks realistically

Cressida Dick talked about "different crimes" which I took to mean looting and general disorder. I think people with addictions will become increasingly desperate as travel restrictions mean that importing drugs will become more difficult, and the street prices will rise. Others will just take advantage of closed up shops and bars full of stock.

It's started already 'Bog roll bandits' arrested with van full of toilet paper
mol.im/a/8137755

People in the army are also briefed on how to deal with a widespread chemical attack, that doesn't mean one is likely.

It's more likely they'll be assisting paramedics or firefighters tbh to cover sickness etc

I have just returned from a huge sain

Lots of stock and very calm muted atmosphere

Let me guess... you’re a fan of end of the world, zombie apocalyptic movies?

Well it hasnt happened in any other country so let's hope we can control ourselves and help each other out.

Hope the army is not to stop looters but to enforce the officially mandated lockdown, which must be coming soon. especially given how some idiots are behaving.
I never thought I'd be hoping for an official lockdown but then I had faith in the people of Britain. Daft eh?//

It’s a strange one. Been out today with my husband and baby. Decided to park in a usually very busy expensive area by the harbor and didn’t pay for parking as clearly no one checking tickets. I think slowly everything will become less and less policed