Britain riots: my two cents (or rather a rant)

[alexandral]

I rarely rant about political matters, but I do so occasionally. This is the day for ranting because I have not seen anything as scary as current British riots in my life (and I lived through the fall-out from the collapse of USSR which at the time I thought to be the scariest time of my life). I do find it doubly-scary because I have always thought that the level of life and opportunities existing in Britain (even now), even in the poorest places, are much higher than in many many places in less developed countries. So I can not quite understand: why? When there is rioting in third-world countries, like China, it is often attributed to the countries' "regime". What are we to attribute the British riots to? Democracy?

I find the situation scary and I find it appalling. But the thing I do not understand personally is what is happening with the Police and other forces responsible for keeping the peace in the country. Where are they?

For example, there is an article explaining "What could the police do to stop the rioting?" on BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14459127. What it says is that Britain is not comfortable with the use of Water Canons, Baton rounds or Army forces. This is a typical phrase: "British policing traditionally did not rely on such methods" and that "In other countries they'd be deployed in the blink of an eye" (meaning Army forces). But seriously, may be this is the time to reconsider?

Comments

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Looks a lot like what we did have in Paris a couple of years ago. Except we seem to have less destroying stores maybe(it was more about facing the Police). That's why I'm not that shocked. The only thing that does strike me as odd is that I always though that th british were very respectful of the Police over there, contrary to here (no ones likes Police...no one and with good reasons tbh).

Everyone should just calm down, have a Gandhi talk and drink some tea :/. It will pass. It always pass. But it's still very scary to witness.

I'm not sure if the Army is the solution. I'm not sure either the all media talking and making it huge is a solution too. *shrugs*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I have seen some of conspiracy theories as to why this has been such a distruprive set of incidents - some people believe that the Police was "too slow" on purpose. I don't think so myself (I just think they were taken by surprise by the scale of the events), but the outcome will be favourabe for the Police (they were facing cuts, but the cuts will be canceled after this, I think).

I'm not sure if the Army is the solution. I'm not sure either the all media talking and making it huge is a solution too. *shrugs*

You know me - I am "take an axe out and chop their heads off" kind of girl. :D Like everyone, I am not sure what will help, but it seems that the Police is not capable to do it on their own.

It is awfully big, though. there have been some incidents in Leeds, and there have been Police helicopters and Police siresn heard everywhere today.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Oh conspiracies theories ^^. Always here those ones.

Asha style ^^. Yeah it would be easier indeed :p. Oh I just heard this on the radio. Apparently it's gaining some other cities? They talked about Glasgow and Liverpool o__O. Whut? :o

Stay safe ne!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It seems Birmingham suffered - some of the pictures of the city centre are quite bad, and also as according to BBC "Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol also experience disturbances". Apparently the rioters use Blackberry messaging service.

I know there have been some smaller incidents in Leeds (following from a man being shot in the face) , but it was smaller. The helicopters at night were quite disturbing, though. :D

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

following from a man being shot in the face

WTF? :o :o :o :o

But what do they do that for?

This is far worse than what happenned in Paris then. There was violence but it was directed to the police mostly and there was a purpose (kind of). Shooting someone on the face is just bad :/.

Wow. I felt that London changed a lot (I was going to write about this in my next entry) but now I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't not only a physical change but also a certain mood. Crappy crap, I really hope it will be ok soon and everyone will come back to their senses.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think the man shot was a gang thig in one of leeds gang areas, Chapeltown. This is not that rare there, but apparently there have been some small incidents there. I am not sure if this was connected.

It is mostly about burning and looting in London, it seems, some places are quite central, like Oxford Circus.

[raffaella.livejournal.com]

I don't remember it being as bad here, in 2005 and later. Part of it was that it happened in the banlieues, in places where there weren't that many shops and businesses to loot. And part of it was that, as you say, it was mostly youths facing the police and burning cars, but there wasn't as much destruction and no deaths. I don't even know what to make of this.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

I don't too. Everyone was making a fuss about it in the medias though. I remember friends phoning me and asking me if I was allright and if I wanted to take shelter in their home. The medias were makin it huge big time outside, it was quite funny almost.

British always striked me as more level-headed than french, so that's why I'm a bit "are they for real?" when I first read about what's happening in London. But never trust the calm water I guess ^^. I still think that the medias are making it a bit more dramatic than it is like they did for Paris before.

I hope so at least.