The London Riots – 8/8/2011

Since the shooting of Mark Duggan on Thursday 4th of August, who was involved in a shoot-out with the police and his consequent death by the police, riots have taken place in places all over England.

It is now being questioned whether Mr Duggan was using a gun or not – a gun was however found on the scene.

What started out as peaceful protest, turned into multiple riots, which has seen buses being burnt, police cars engulfed in flames and today saw a red Mazda set ablaze which has seen a video dedicated to it on the Sky News website. Worryingly, Sky have also reported on their website that these riots were organised, a week before, over the internet.

The riots in Hackney began today and riots all across London escalated to similar scenes of what happened in Tottenham on Saturday. The activities taking place all over London are being called copy cat actions, yet are making the news all over the world.

There are many issues surrounding this riot; such as whether the police are handling the situation better than they did in the beginning, when there was a lack of officers; also whether the people looting and causing damage to property and shops are opportunistic or sects from organised groups, or both, either way they are conducting criminal acts. The latter is what the media will be reporting on further. So far the view seems to be that it is a minority of people doing the looting and damage, who are from a minority and that the majority of the community are against these shocking actions.

Since the weekend the riots have moved on from Tottenham to since spread to  Birmingham, Brixton, Chingford, Croydon, Enfield, Ealing, Hackney, Lewisham, Peckham, Walthamstow, Wood Green, Woolwich.

The riot police’s plan is said to be protecting the local people and their property, and as for the actions of those damaging property they are continuing to do so. The Police have been receiving flack for not doing enough to protect locals and stopping the looting that has been a familiar scene all over London. There have been a significant amount of arrests about 200 so far and increasing – the media have reported that CCTV footage is to be released by the Metropolitan Police in an attempt to identify criminals who are causing disruption. Acting Chief Commissioner of The Metropolitan Police – Tim Godwin said he has heard many reasons for the London riots, although he points out that it is no excuse for the violence taking place.

There has been much carnage today (Monday), similar to the student protests in London November 2010. Theresa May the Home Secretary flew back from her holiday in Switzerland and Mayor Boris Johnson is due to be back on Tuesday. Theresa May said in a statement to the press “Let me be absolutely clear: Those responsible for this violence and looting will be made to face the consequences of their actions.”

A minority of people are using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the Shadow social network – Blackberry’s messenger to organise these riots; So why shadow? Well the media have been highlighting the recent riots in London as being organised by Twitter and by other social media – they are yet to mention the use of Blackberry which has been banned before in Canada, and the UAE, whereas India considered banning the Blackberry due to the dangers it poses for organised crime. Whether the use of Blackberry will feature in the media is yet to be decided by producers who have been said to be slow on the reporting of this particularity.

Diane Abbot MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington  has been interviewed by CNN and the BBC and has referred to the riots as appalling. Police helicopters are everywhere in London and will be monitoring and helping with police operations from above the air. Nick Clegg was speaking with David Lammy MP for Tottenham where the riots originated from and David Lammy has said that 99% of the community are against these actions of the minority who are causing this devastation.

The Metropolitan police are urging people to clear the streets, and advising parents to contact their children. The IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) is to publish a report tomorrow on the death of Mark Duggan who was aged 29. David Cameron is returning from abroad tonight and will be holding a COBRA (emergency government meeting) meeting about what is being called The London riots.