I’m currently unable to tear my eyes from the news channel in front of me. I’m watching a fire spread from one building to the next with no fire service in sight. The fire brigade isn’t allowed to fight the fire until the area has been secured by the police. Until then, neighbouring shops are going up in flames, as are the flats above the shops. People are evacuating their flats to escape the fire.
This is just the latest in the horrific images I seem unable to stop watching. If the bins and cars being set on fire weren’t enough to shock me, seeing this parade of shops burn is definitely doing it.
All day, we have seen images of bins being set on fire and those fires being fed with any object which can be find. Shops are being looted, windows on buses being smashed before the bus is set on fire.
Today, the reason behind the rioting appears to be a stop and search this afternoon. Whether the stop and search was warranted or not, this kind of a reaction definitely isn’t. Whatever excuse people are using for their behaviour is irrelevant. Nothing justifies city wide rioting.
If you’re angry at police, why would you damage and loot a local business? If you think there are a lack of jobs, how would setting fire to a job centre help? If you’re worried about the state of the economy, how does vandalising someone’s home change that? There is no logic to any of this. Homes, businesses and cars are being destroyed with no reason.
Twitter and Facebook is full of calls for the army to intervene or for the police to use water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. I’m now inclined to agree. The police are unable to control the riots. We need more action. Something needs to change if there will be any London left.
