The riots were allowed by the cops as a warning to the Gov to say "cut police budgets at your peril"
I did find the riots odd.

Not the first one - Mark Duggan's death was seen as an extrajudicial killing by the people in Tottenham and it all got out of hand. No mystery there.

But the next ones - to me that had a feeling of being allowed to happen. Specifically in the way it was closed down a few days later. I live in urban London and on the first night the riots DIDN'T happen there was police bloody everywhere. Patrolling the streets. If they'd done this earlier I think the riots wouldn't have happened.

So why didn't the cops pull out the stops and patrol earlier?

It did cross my mind at the time it was a warning shot to the Government about proposed police cuts. But I don't know - more of a thought rather than something I 100% believe as fact.
( rob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 9:48, 23 replies)

Yes I agree.
It reminded me of the phrase "Blue Day" - the police aren't allowed to strike, but if they get really pissy they'll coordinate a day to all call in sick.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 9:51, closed)

I would agree Rob.
As if you see any political protest or trouble is met with full force of the law. Just look at the wall of steel for the protests last week.
( The Mock Turtle ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 9:51, closed)

A cynical bastard like me might suggest that when faced with protestors - essentially women, students and hippies
The police quite like to get stuck in because there's little chance of them getting hurt themselves. They stood back and let the rioters get on with it because if they had tried to intervene there was a good chance of police casualties.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 11:09, closed)

Very true.

( The Mock Turtle ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 11:19, closed)

You poke a dog with a stick, you don't get to complain when it bites you.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 11:29, closed)

When the same dog rolls over to have its tummy tickled by looters and rioters
You might start to think that it's a bit of a useless dog
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 12:16, closed)

As disgust above, I reckon that was a shot over the bows to warn the govt about the cuts.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 12:18, closed)

Which of course makes it all fine
Yay for the police's deliberate incompetence
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 12:59, closed)

I'm starting to sense a "damned if they do, damned if they don't" approach here.
You can bet your horse that if they'd taken out any of the rioters that the victim would have been a promising footballer or grade A student who's career had been ruined by police brutality, if they had.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 13:30, closed)

You're exactly right
They're damned when they smash up a peaceful climate change camp with batons and riot shields and they're damned when they stand back and let looters destroy people's homes and businesses. I think they're damned because they don't even acknowledge (or recognise) a difference between the two cases and Another tragic case's invocation of the Nuremberg defence below merely serves to highlight what a sorry state the police force is in.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 14:46, closed)

I think you deliberately misinterpreted my point.
I don't think any action taken by the police will be seen as acceptable to some, as they are not interested in whether or not the police are doing a good job or not, but are more interested in criticising them for any action they perform.

A cynic might say that such are keen on being perceived by others as anti-establishment and rebellious.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 15:09, closed)

A cynic might point out that
"smash up a peaceful climate change camp with batons and riot shields" isn't really how it is.

It's usually a wall of fist flinging crusties.
(username failed moderation, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 15:33, closed)

If only we had video evidence to show what happened instead of speculating about what "usually" happens
Oh, wait, we do.

Climate camp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t244-zEENSs
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 15:49, closed)

They're not 'peaceful' you
dipshit.

They've set up an illegal obstruction across a public road, for the sole purpose of creating a confrontation.

They're fucking *gagging* for a fight.

I have no sympathy whatsoever. This hypocrytical whining by people who start and lose these fights is very old, and rarely if ever makes any diffence.

Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, you stinking layabouts.
(username failed moderation, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 16:36, closed)

If you can't win the argument with evidence
Call your opponent a "dipshit" and a "stinking layabout"

then you'll win for sure
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 16:52, closed)

Hah.
No, the problem is when you say things like that without adding anything else. My points are perfectly capable of being understood. More shock horror he called me a dipshit smokescreening there.

But, if you've got nothing to say, just get butthurt, maybe someone will be sympathetic.
(username failed moderation, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 16:58, closed)

Yes how rebellious and anti-establishment of me
to suggest that the guys on the planned peaceful protest with the placards and tents are in any way different to the looters stealing trainers and mobile phones and setting fire to people's homes. Evidently, suggesting that the police were too heavy-handed in their treatment of unarmed protestors and too cowardly to get involved with actual criminals is a ploy to make myself seem somehow "edgier".
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 16:03, closed)

Ooh, well done. 10 posts in and already a half-Godwin.
Top internetting, there.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 17:21, closed)

A bronze-standard Internet Debate.
Now if "confirmation bias" or "straw man" turn up as well it'll become a silver.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 19:20, closed)

As a cop...
I'd have to add that 'the police', i.e. your everyday bobby has as much control over what they do in such a situation as a riot, as you do.

Those decisions are made from high up and, generally, they aren't the ones who will be affected by any cuts to pay or pensions.

The Police are always considered to be in the wrong in every situation. Not acting tough enough, or too tough - it all depends which side of any particular argument you stand - and therefore conspiracy theorists love a juicy one involving the cops.
( Another_tragic_case wished he hadn't eaten all the cake, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 11:56, closed)

Not really
when the Police fuck up, it gets reported.

99% of the time they get it right, and nobody says anything. This applies to almost every walk of life, there's nothing special about the police.

You'll never make detective, that's for sure.
(username failed moderation, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 12:15, closed)

if you talk to anyone from 'Liberty', you may change your percentages...

( Another_tragic_case wished he hadn't eaten all the cake, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 12:38, closed)

Well, it's not like they have
any agenda, is it?

I doubt I would, but anyway that wasn't the point.
(username failed moderation, Wed 7 Dec 2011, 14:24, closed)