I would have sanctioned rubber bullets or water cannon on Sunday. It would have stopped this all escalating. I would also have declared a state of riot/emergency, so that rioters would be detained without due process (for weeks if necessary) until it all calmed down.

Why am I so "gun-ho"? I've seen residential flats burnt down, and I fear some unknown innocents have already been killed. People have been mugged on the street, there are at least a couple who've been shot dead in the disturbances, and lot's more besides. But the main reason is that local communities are getting more riled by all this. If the police don't get a grip of this soon, there are going to be more deaths, this time from communities fighting back.

Incidentally, I can understand to an extent why inner city youth feel they have no future (they're wrong but they are too young to realise it, and their "music" and peer culture doesn't tell them any different). All the old jobs have gone, and the service/retail jobs are seemingly reserved for over-qualified energetic Euro trendies - who often can save enough over a few years to make a difference back home. But none of it excuses this type of mob mentality, and it needed to be nipped in the bud. It wasn't, and we've now seen it spread over several cities as well as various boroughs within London.

as you had an option to answer the post or not, your apology accepted.

still think more water with it


rgds
Dom

I see the church's apologist is back. Why not try and make a relevant contribution to the thread, or is this the best you can do?

Given that you are so offended if I post that justice should cut both ways, obviously not.

Still, you keep criticising me. It's almost as good as being praised by the wise, and more entertaining to boot.

At least HBG has the capability to write well, whether I agree with what he says or no, and he has a nice way with words. You can't even do that.

Talking of losers, I see Clegg got a splended reception. Went to the scene only to have people shout at him 'You're too late.'

There's a man that gives new meaning to the term 'LUSER'

The good citizens were on the streets bitching like crazy at the lack of response from the police, describing it as too little too late, which certainly rings true.

Maybe tonight they will get off their collective arses and actually face the rioters down. I tend to think that these are mostly opportunistic scum, (one shop owner described them as 'feral', which I thought was nice), and if faced by police that demonstrated a bit more keenness to protect taxpayers they would probably cut and run.

More water with my water? Still not making sense man, but I accept your apology too.

ISTR the americans had a law banning fire water to the locals

I have nothing to apologise for

so what happens if the organiser(s) now set off brush fires in other parts of the country - whilst the cat's away so to speak

perhaps they need the armed forces because all the water cannon have been given to them to go with green goddesses.

how many politicians does it take for the £megabucks (acting temporary) head of the Met to get all together in one room at the same time to agree to let him use water cannon.
France would just reel them out and start watering
oh dear am I advocating suspension of someone's human rights

bet its hard to get a hotel room in London, full of arrestees.

Course not, course not.

You keep saying it long enough, and you'll come to believe it mate.

The yanks used to give the american natives firewater and smallpox infected blankets. Gave them a nation founded on genocide.

Ever watch that programme on the US civil war? Stupendous piece of work tracking the war thru the eyes/letters of two soldiers who were in it at the start and survived to the end. They were both letter writers, and it was some of the most moving stuff I have seen.

It's for sale as a set of DVDs, and if you are interested in American history it is a great buy. Sorry, but I can't remember the title. Anyway, there was a second series on the native americans, and what happened to them, again, sometimes thru their own words, but also from their contemporaries. I watched a couple, but by then I felt physically sick, and couldn't bear to watch any more.

Overreaction could be bad, and send all the wrong signals, so they say.

All I see is a government that can't keep the peace.

You are just a moron. This was a career criminal out on the streets armed with an illegal LOADED handgun. You would be the first one crying about it if he had shot someone and the police hadn't done anything. Another piece of scum is off the streets, and a good thing too.

The police should use live fire on these animals, as they don't have any respect for law and order.

Maybe you would like to go and reason with these thugs? I am sure they will listen to your reasonable arguments!

don't remember hearing you say that about the Madrid riots

Ahh, nice to see the yanks coming in late, but hey, no change there eh?

So you advocate the execution of anyone in possession of a firearm? Well, I suppose it might help, but unfortunately, we have rules over here that means the police aren't allowed to kill people just because they are breaking the law.

WTF?

and your point is?

Hey bil is this forum's secret weapon

...tell me again one more time why we have the police if its the government who can't keep the peace

It has just been reported on Ch4 news...........

The IPC has stated that there were only 2 shots fired & both were fired by one police officer.
One hit the dead mans arm and ended up in a police radio.
The second hit him in the chest killing him.
There was a firearm found in the car that is believed to have belonged to the dead man & further tests are being carried out.

More or less what was said by Israel (?) the deputy home secretary (again ?)