The Current Situation

There has been much analysis recently over the riots, the causes and the solutions, which will and should carry on long after this is over.  This would be best done however with a clear head when it is finished.  Looking directly at the current situation, I would like to very briefly make three points.

Firstly, David Cameron’s speech today was what we had all been waiting to hear. He finally got a grip, and shook off the watery talk which got us in this mess in the first place.  Of course we need to look at why this happened, but while people live in fear and businesses are being destroyed, our priority is to restore order before anything else.

Secondly, Looking directly at the current situation, there is another particular issue that appears to be rising.  Whilst I admire the ‘vigilantes’ or whatever they would like to call themselves, as I believe it shows the community coming together, it does also concern me for a number of reasons.  Firstly, that people feel it has come to this. Secondly, with emotions running high they may not show the restraint professional law enforcement does.  And thirdly, and most worryingly, is the escalation this can lead to, depending on how they perceive they are being treated by the Police.  These people need to understand that the Police are in a difficult situation and bringing more people onto the street can lead to confusion.  They have to understand the Police need to be over cautious, and that this does not mean an ‘attack’ on them; it is after all for their own good.  At the same time the Police need to make sure they maintain a firm but good understanding relationship with these people, and that by working with these people this hideous chapter can be brought to an end.

Thirdly, I hope it does not get to the stage of having to use water cannon, rubber bullets, tear gas etc, but if it does then we should support its use.  A clear message has to be sent out, that if you decide to go out terrorising towns, looting, vandalising, attacking Police, and you get hurt in the process then that is entirely your own fault.  Quite simply, if you don’t want to get hurt then don’t go out rioting, you cannot complain about Police heavy handedness when you act like feral thugs.