Chaos Reigns

If you haven't been on another planet for the last week, you will be aware of the rioting and looting that has taken place in Britain since sunday. It started in North London over the shooting of a youth by police, but has since spread to Birmingham, Liverpool. And its getting out of control now. Even as I type there are live reports of thugs weilding wooden batons moving down a road in Croydon and residents must be absolutely terrified. It started with a peaceful protest but as is the way of these things, it got hijacked by the lawless yobs with a grudge against society for whatever reason, and has descended into three nights of utter mayhem. Police cells in the capital city are now full and police resources are stretched like never before in history. There are also talks of plastic bullets being issued as the prime minister vows to put 16,000 officers on London's streets this evening.


Welcome to Britain

Is this one of the downfalls of living in a liberal democracy? Or is it the result of a frustrated youth? One things for certain there has been a complete breakdown of authority, and these yobs have no respect for that authority. And why should they? When these hooligans are tracked down and hauled before the courts, very few will see the inside of a prison cell. (And if they do it won't be for long). Which will be another kick in the teeth for the poor shopkeepers, many of whom will lose their livelihoods as a result of this chaos. We in mainland Britain foolishly don't have water canons at our disposal and I hope this changes soon, or burning cities will be popping up from Land's End to John O' Groats. Its little use having policemen holding riot shields and standing in formation while all around them, feral teenagers are running amok, looting from shops and doing God knows what else. Its the softly softly approach to criminals that has started the rot. When will the namby pamby do gooders learn that dishing out soft sentences will not 'reform' those dedicated to criminal and violent behaviour. Online newspapers are filled with pictures and videos of looters breaking into electrical and sports stores and making off with training shoes and plasma televisions, while in the background flames lick around buildings and burnt out shells of buses sit like studs of anarchy. And the vandals responsible ought to be rounded up and flogged. Then they should be forced to clean up the mess whilst linked to a chain gang.