DC10

Just passed my local high street on the train, looking out the window at burning cars and hundreds of riot police. My dad was in a local supermarket this afternoon when two police ran inside to shelter from a marauding gang.

24 days left in the UK for me...

DC10

Croydon town centre the latest to be set ablaze. Yep, It's going to be a rough night here in the big smoke.

P18PPS

mindless violence goes on everywhere

Am Loolah

True, but London is my home and it is incredibly distressing to see, especially with so many family and friends there.

Genesis

Get the army in. Restore order with an iron fist. If they don't it will spread everywhere. They are pussy footing around. The army could sort it in a few hours I reckon. They have no bloody will those in charge. Take back the streets and whoop the bastards.

P18PPS

too late it's already across London, Croydon and Birmingham....

stupid gangs of thugs who jump on the band wagon and excuse of a poor family looking for answers surrounding their son's killing. JDsports will be out of business by the end of the week - at least the authorities will know who's been looting!

latest on BBC news was rumors that the army were being deployed onto the streets of london.

BEVS

...and what about your Dad?

DC10

He was fine - a little shaken (getting on in years these days!). He had to drive home dodging thugs wearing masks and throwing stones

The news coming out is just incredible. Basically every shopping area in London is being trashed, burnt and looted tonight.

I don't think many forumites realise (yet) just how serious this is. I would say the biggest crisis to hit London in decades.

Now off to bed and will hope nobody puts a brick through the window

billingham

It would be naive to think this will be limited to the UK. Social unrest will follow the austerity. Part of the problem is the youth - they have been spoon fed for years and told they can achieve / have anything - reality falls somewhat short of that ideal. This has been brewing for years.

Robbie2010

So said President Bashar al-Assad of Syria!

Genesis

Too late? No its not. Get them in now. Personally I would have done it as soon as the contaigon set in. They got no balls those in charge. It would send out a message to the world that we ain't taking no shit and moreover we are in charge not these mindless scum. Personaly if I had it my way anyone who was rioting/looting would be shot on sight. They do it elsewhere why not in the Uk?? I know that if they knocked out a few rioters the idea of rioting would soon seem like a baaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea. Too pussy, too weak. We need strength and discipline in the UK. Especially when you see these filthy scum like individuals (from ALL races) doing what they are doing. I can't believe they can do this to their own neighbourhoods. All this talk of being hard up, jobless etc is utter bollocks. The people in India who are waaaaaaaaaaaaay worse off don't behave like this. I do hope some genuine rioters feel the very, very rough end of a police baton.

DC10

And high time they strapped a gun to every police hip, both here and in NZ. Give up the fantasy and focus on how many lives that would actually save.

Robbie2010

Or Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi of Libya perhaps?

BEVS

Actually I disagree. Most of us have family and friends back in the UK . We also have the world news here and so know how 'bad' this social unrest is.

By your Dad , I rather meant was he OK and is he also returning to NZ with you & so away from London.

Genesis

If they were doing the same thing they deserve it (mind you this is not people trying to depose an apparent tyrant is it?). So not really the same game anyway eh? Yes I think rioters like these deserve the ultimate punishment. Especially when you see the wanton violence they unleash. I cannot imagine the fear of those who are innocent. And that is what makes me so robust about my thoughts. The poor innocent mwomen, children and men who are in the midst of all this shit. Its utter anarchcy. It must be stopped and if a few rioters die ending it big deal? They are the scum of the earth. Utter bastards.