Best Quote since the Rioting began

[stuart-b]

guardian said:

There has been a lot of debate – particularly in the comments section of our live blogs and others – about whether the police should be given water cannons to deal with the rioters, and whether the army should be called in. The home secretary, Theresa May, has just pretty much ruled on water cannon, in an interview on Sky News.

The way we police in Britain is not with water cannon. The way we police in Britain is on the streets and with the communities.

At least if the police had water cannons they could have saved the MX-5!

In all seriousness, why not?

[trashbat]

The notional reason the riots started is because of a police shooting - it's not the root cause, but it's supposedly the trigger. Going in more heavily with water cannon and the like just reinforces that perceived provocation, and maybe even loses support from the public who currently have little empathy or support for the rioters.

[crankedup]

Only use water cannon if the protest is against Government Policy, I refer to the Poll Tax riots and the use of the water cannon during those riots in London.

[98elise]

stuart-b said:

At least if the police had water cannons they could have saved the MX-5!

In all seriousness, why not?

Because when a policeman pushes someone over, and he later dies, the media will not rest until he faces criminal charges (Ian Tomlinson)

Unfortunately our police have no teeth at all, and our politicians are full of hot air, only concerned what the media will think.

[trashbat]

In fact, if you remember the Paris riots of 2005, the provocation was Sarkozy (not President at that point) saying that they should clean the streets with a Karcher pressure washer. Probably not an ideal gesture.

[Mr Dave]

Why not?

Because she is wishy washy and has probably never been in a riot. Stupid bint. Water cannons with dye and the video recording and command and control facilities they offer are very useful in a riot.

[pc.iow]

Bloke being interviewed on Sky News. "Just go home"

[Mst007]

"The safest place to take refuge if you get caught up in a riot is to head straight for the nearest job centre, they`ll never go in there"

Anonymous

[oOTomOo]

I heard a fella on the BBC describe it as;

"It's just late night aggressive shopping, without paying"

[Ari]

I smiled at a comment from a friend on Facebook:

"So that's a cautious thumbs up for The Big Society".

[Tiggsy]

Mst007 said:

"The safest place to take refuge if you get caught up in a riot is to head straight for the nearest job centre, they`ll never go in there"

Anonymous

or a book shop.


In fact, if JD Sports hung a WH Smiths sign over their shutters they'd still have all their gear.

[munky]

Rioting spread to Peckham last night, and caused millions of pounds worth of improvements.

[stuttgartmetal]

Sky News well hyped presenter in Clapham steps into a smashed up Boots, looks around and comment....

"Their are drugs spread on the floor!"

Leans down, and picks up a box and reads out

" Immodium"......

[Willie Dee]

"There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it."

- Martin Luther King Jr.


Here's a sad truth, expressed by a Londoner when asked by a television reporter:

"Is rioting the correct way to express your discontent?"

"Yes," said the young man. "You wouldn't be talking to me now if we didn't riot, would you?"

The TV reporter from Britain's ITV had no response. So the young man pressed his advantage. "Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you."

[AJS-]

98elise said:

Because when a policeman pushes someone over, and he later dies, the media will not rest until he faces criminal charges (Ian Tomlinson)

Unfortunately our police have no teeth at all, and our politicians are full of hot air, only concerned what the media will think.

I think that is something that gets people's backs up though. That policeman went and barged over Ian Thomlinson, who looked on the video like a slightly daft old bloke, or at very worst an irritating attention we. But when faced with some really violent and nasty people who mean to cause the police harm, they seem a lot more circumspect about responding harshly.

It's a rock and a hard place, of course and no balance will please everyone. But I would like to see the police in situations like this, and indeed in society in general, go a bit easier on the eccentric and the awkward, and a bit harsher on those who really do fk things up.

[Johnnytheboy]

guardian said:

The way we police in Britain is on the streets and with the communities.

In the current context, to paraphrase the german who said it first, 'Every time I hear the word 'community', I reach for my revolver'.

[Dr Jekyll]

crankedup said:

Only use water cannon if the protest is against Government Policy, I refer to the Poll Tax riots and the use of the water cannon during those riots in London.

Are you sure about that?

[DPX]

ebay site could get overload with a huge amount of buy it now tele's

[poo at Paul's]

Willie Dee said:

"So the young man pressed his advantage. "Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? "

fking Kiwi s.

[John_S4x4]

From an American cop... That's the problem with British policeman, they shout "STOP! If you don't stop, I shall say STOP again". We American cops say "STOP or I'l shoot!"