I don’t want to open a political discussion or so. We all as snufftakers benefit from the rich british tradition. And so, because of the sad news we all receive from England about the riots in London and now also in other parts of the country I feel the inner need to ensure our English friends here at Snuffhouse that we who live in other parts of the world are with them, think of them and pray for them. I hope that the situation will calm down soon and that noone of you gets hurt or injured by the riots.
Well said, Uwe. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Uwe speaks my heart as well. Stay safe out there.
On behalf of Londoners like myself, as well as people affected in other UK cities, I would like to say a heart-felt thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It is a dreadful time but as an ex London Police Officer I have every faith that the Metropolitan Police, and the forces in other parts of the country, will get this contained. They have not faced anything like it at least in decades and possibly never and they do need your prayers. The last thing anyone needs right now is a political argument, especially those of us living through it or who are worried about relatives, and this could very easily turn into one. If any other member wants to add words of support then please do, but please keep it to that. London and our Great Nation WILL survive this.
Thanks, snuffster, for this comment. Well said.
Indeed, Nigel. My thoughts are with you all over there.
Thanks guys, it means a lot.
The police are showing admirable restraint. If anyone can handle the situation the constabulary can. I hope it doesn’t come down to calling out the army. This too will pass.
Adding my best wishes for a return to sanity and peace. Humans are odd animals…
@Mouse : Agreed. It would be great if we could all just be peaceful… Like this freakin’ forum! But i’ll put aside the comedy for this one… My thoughts and prayers are with you all as well. Take care, stay safe. God be with you
God watch over You and Your’s. edm
He is, no fear of that. Thanks.
I understand the frustrations but is it just me or does rioting hurt the people doing it the most? This is actualy the first I heard about this and hope for the best. Sadly the police in england are some of the best trained and equiped for roits because of holigans.
Its pretty much beyond operational experience at the moment due to the scale and nature of it. Police training assumes a scenario where they themselves, or a held position, are the focus of the attack, but with just one, main area of disorder. The training is based on our experience of riots at Notting Hill Carnival, football matches and historical events like the Broadwater Farm riots of 30 years ago. The incidents now are small groups breaking from a larger unruly mass and then hitting various places, all aided by smart phones etc and getting away much more quickly than the police can respond. It takes a lot of time to deploy and communications on the ground are difficult to say the least, half of the time you just can’t hear your own radio. I can see what the police are doing (I only need to close my eyes to be there) - securing lines and observing - and being very conscious of the force they use. What happens next is getting very much into unknown territory. The next progression, and it would be after a lot of discussion and maybe another couple of days rioting, would be baton rounds or water canon. The canon would have to come in from Northern Ireland. I still think it can be contained and pray it is.
Stay safe, everyone! You’ve been in my thoughts.
I watched a video where a person confronted looters and asked them why they were doing it. One lady said “We’re getting our taxes back!” I don’t want to live in a world where people steal from local businesses and think they’re somehow “getting back” at the government.
I live in Toxteth, Liverpool. Rioters have destroyed a lot of property and businesses in the area. Hoping the police get the grip on them.
When will people actualy riot in the neighborhoods that the politicians live. Not that I recommend they do that, but at least it would make some sense wouldn’t it. I do hope it gets under control. Everytime I see things like this too I think I would never want to be a police officer.
Armed police in Croydon today. This is unusual and creepy.
“London and our Great Nation WILL survive this.” London has survived the Black Death, the Great Plague, the Great Fire, the Blitz and riots far, far worse than these. These outbreaks of civil unrest pale when compared to the Gordon Riots in London 1780, which severely damaged Britain’s international reputation as a stable democracy. Looting and arson was on such a monumental scale that some foreign observers thought Britain was finished. During the rioting at least 1,000 people were killed of whom 285 were shot or bayoneted to death by soldiers sent to restore order. Many hundreds more were wounded. This contemporary print shows ranks of redcoats in a burning London street delivering volley fire against rioters. Artillery firing canister was also used against them. (Hint, hint) http://londonparticulars.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/gordon-riots.jpg
These disturbances seem similar in cause and effect to the widespread rioting in France in 2005 when President Jacques Chirac finally declared a state of national emergency. The catalyst here was the accidental electrocution of two youths hiding from police in a power station. Rioting spread from Paris to 273 other towns and cities and lasted several weeks. However, I’d be surprised if the situation here gets that extensive or destructive as our weather is more variable. Whatever ignites rioting its fuel is thereafter sustained by nothing more than opportunistic criminality and the excitement of street battles with the police. Long-suffering wage earners will foot the bill when insurance premiums go up again next year, and the council tax increases. £100,000,000 to pay so far and rising.