weird news coverage of london tonight

[Johnny Mac]

Yes, it is very worrying.

The police need to get the water cannons out.  I'm watching them just walking up to the police and mocking them.
When did the police lose any power they had?  They need to be seen to do something quickly, they can't just stand there looking like idiots.

The water cannon are in N. Ireland. The police lost their powers, let me guess, during the last Government? They didn't stand around like this in 85 & 81, they smashed the cr@p out of them.

[Johnny Mac]

Woman jumps from window to escape burning building

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/08/london-riots-terrified-woman-jumps-from-burning-building-115875-23330390/

[FernandoDuarte]

Man, that is sick... I'm always against police abuse (as from where I'm it's usual), but these people are crimenals and the police shall treat them like that!!!

[Dmoney]

I just got home from Dalston. Saw some people up on the roof on the kingsland shopping centre. people were gathering and stuff kept popping off.
Still, me and mate walked round dalston to a friends house with cups of tea in hand... I think the fact we walked through a potential flashpoint with cups of tea must have fried some peoples brains.
We were up over where the market is in dalston, people kept running around and stuff was going on there for a while. I decided to make a move before the overground shut.
People have been getting mugged in London Fields, and I didn't fancy getting mugged on a bus or on the train.

[Philly Q]

I keep hearing sirens outside - no idea if there's something going on nearby or if they're en route to Croydon and/or Brixton.  I have no intention of investigating.

[Dmoney]

where are you philly?
I heard Clapham might be getting evacuated. that could be over the top. Camberwell is tense.
Liverpool has trouble starting.

[Philly Q]

I'm in Streatham - so just South of Brixton and a few miles North of Croydon.  All on the A23.

I don't think anything much is going on, but as I say I'm not going to look!  Half the population here is Polish, so they probably don't feel much connection with the rioters/looters...!  :lol:

[Dmoney]

I'm chatting to friends I have in Streatham. They said its all quiet there too. They have family in Croyden who left Croyden and came to stay with them. I'm in new cross. It's pretty student dominated but its a real mix. deptford isn't far. But these places don't have the kinds of shops that have been getting looted really, even though the population isn't what you'd called affluent

[FELINEGUITARS]

Just popping my head up to say Hi and that all is well here (as far as I can tell)

As has been said the main trouble seems to be North of the town centre and we are South

This has NOTHING to do with the shooting in Tottenham and everything to do with lawlessness, thieving - these scum are using it as an opportunity for behaviours that they wouldn't dare do otherwise.

The owner of the burnt out Reeves furniture store is a recent customer of mine - so sad!

Hoping everybody else stays safe!

[Philly Q]

Good to hear you're OK, Jon.  I watched a long interview with Mr Reeves on the BBC, poor guy was heartbroken and very angry.  That business has been going for 150 years through five generations of his family, now it's all gone - he said it looks like Dresden.

And then you get fools like Livingstone and Howe defending these dolts because they're "deprived" and "frustrated".

I'm chatting to friends I have in Streatham. They said its all quiet there too. They have family in Croyden who left Croyden and came to stay with them. I'm in new cross. It's pretty student dominated but its a real mix. deptford isn't far. But these places don't have the kinds of shops that have been getting looted really, even though the population isn't what you'd called affluent

Yeah, there's relatively little to loot in Streatham - 99p Stores and Lidl!

But seriously, there aren't many electrical goods stores or similar - it's mostly restaurants and pubs, although places like that have been trashed in Ealing and Clapham.  

[Dmoney]

I dont think livingstone was defending them as such and I don't think there is an excuse, at the same time I'm not for over analyzing the causes, but I think there is something more to it than opportunistic thieves in some cases at least. I don't really have a suggestion for what is fueling it all and I can't get my head around it. I think all the individuals involved are going to have different reasons if they have any at all!

I'm not defending what is going on, and I agree with Johnathan that is not about the shooting and it is about lawlessness, theft, but I think boredom, attitudes towards police, upbringing, social situations plays into what is going on. I'm not saying the youth are marginalized and lashing out, I'm just saying as far as I'm concerned there isn't really a clearly defined reason to put across the board for what is happening, although we can agree there is no excuse whatever the reason.

[MrBump]

An African or Asian elephant?

 :lol:

[38thBeatle]

They are selfless opportunistic little sh*ts who are out for a good time. No thought for business owners or their employees. All very well saying airily that people can claim under their insurance- oh that is alright then- it is just b*llocks. Making a claim is a pain in the neck-I know I deal with that every day. Many of the employees of the shops now have no jobs- a lot will be "let go" just so that this scum can have a night out thieving and wrecking. They will never come to anything themselves and resent the fact that others have some sort of life. They are hurting their fellow citizens and that, to me , in the present climate is unforgivable.

[MrBump]

Croydon town centre on BBC Breakfast as I type.

Looks terrible!  Wonder what it will look like after the riot?

Sorry - bad taste.

Group-thug behaviour; it starts (for whatever reason, valid or otherwise) then is latched on to by a generation that really could do with a good, hard smack.

Politicians all confirming to type too...

Does anyone else think that Theresa May looks like Norman Tebbit & Margaret Thatchers love-child..?

[FELINEGUITARS]

The trouble is this is a generation that seems to be lacking a moral compass - they don't seem to see right and wrong.
Just a quick clue to help anyone who is confused - stealing stuff and arson are wrong - OK!

Some of the looters have put clips up on Youtube - hope the police are watching them

Apparently the looters are coming back tonight for anyone they missed last night - they actually told one of the shopkeepers in my street this in the early hours as he was sweeping up his broken windows

Watched a police /TSG van making house calls about 6am on the estate opposite us - wonder if they found who they were looking for.