What kind of parents bring up kids like this, seriously. What kind of people think this is funny! Its gone too far now and the government need to crack down, and by that I mean do whatever it takes. Water canons, rubber bullets, tear gas and follow this up with a national campaign to identify the yobs later. Full on early morning police raids, kicking in the doors of the parents houses and see how they like it.
I'm sure the latter part of what you say will happen. I believe this is now what they do with football hooligans. Contain to a certain extent, video, identify afterwards then prosecute. It appears to work well but of course is a way of dealing with a more 'consistent' issue.
I live in Lewisham with my wife and 7 month old baby. My sister lives in Willesden near with her 2 month old. She is wondering whether to leave their house for a day or so as she has some issues near here. My wife was due to go to Lewisham centre today but opted to wait til tomorrow thankfully (we live far enough from the actual trouble from today). I know there are rules on swearing here, so politely I'm not pleased the people closest to me are scared to leave the house.On a lesser note I'm miffed all she shops were closed near me and I could not get any milk!
It's easy to have an emotional reaction - shoot them, give them a good kicking etc. Part of me certainly feels that way. There is no justification whatsoever for what is happening, people lives are being put at risk and businesses destroyed for no good reason other than pure violence.
That said, we are where we are. What I want is for the streets to be safe again, and for the people responsible to be punished. The question I'm sure the Met are asking themselves is how best to achieve both, as quickly as possible. No doubt they are slightly scarred by all the bad press from the G20.
One thing for sure, people cannot be allowed to loot, damage property unchecked. How to address this without escalating things further \ risking bystanders. I note the police have been pleading for those bystanders to go home which makes me wonder whether if it was solely the rioters out they might be dealing with things differently.
I don't know the answer and am happy to put my faith in the Met who will have studied similar situations many more times than I.