| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Beanmimo 
"August review site"
|
 Posted - 08/08/2011 : 23:19:25
|
I hope you are all spared from the violent actions of your militant minded countrypeople. |
|
|
bife 
"Winners never quit ... fwfr ... "
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 02:41:06
|
| I didn't know that tottenham were so upset at the prospect of losing luca modric ... |
 |
|
|
w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 06:19:53
|
| Is this more of that soccer stuff? I saw David Beckham on tv last night at the Teen Choice Awards with 2 sons sitting on his lap. Wheeeee! |
|
|
|
Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 10:47:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
Is this more of that soccer stuff?
None of this is football related.
It started after police shot and killed a man in London last week. His family held a protest march, and the anti-police nutters tagged along and started the trouble.
This is the latest from the BBC.
|
|
|
|
BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 11:25:09
|
quote:
Originally posted by Chris C
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
Is this more of that soccer stuff?
None of this is football related.
It started after police shot and killed a man in London last week. His family held a protest march, and the anti-police nutters tagged along and started the trouble.
This is the latest from the BBC.
Almost. It wasn't his family who held a protest march, it was a small and universally acknowledged peaceful group of people who just wanted some answers about why the police would randomly stop a taxi, being driven by a black man and with an unarmed black passenger, and shoot him dead. At that time, Saturday, no statement had been issued and their requests had been ignored. This is a mixed-race neighbourhood which had a good record of social cohesion. Relations with the police had greatly improved from the riots some 20 years ago.
But you're right - in that after many hours of peaceful vigil, the group was highjacked by roaming groups of very young teens, not from the neighbourhood, who began attacking the police, setting horrific fires, vandalizing property, and looting.
The police themselves are in a period of very low morale, their budgets having been slashed. They were also very mindful not to do anything to be accused of excessive force. All the live shots I saw bore witness to their exemplary patience in the presence of verbal provocation, and even when chairs, etc were thrown at them.
The police were unable to keep up with the points of destruction because fresh waves were breaking out, communication via twitter and blackberry.
Over the next few days - and clearly unrelated to the shooting - the same scenes of destruction were played out in very disparate districts of London, and then 200 miles away in Birmingham, and even further north in Liverpool.
There are only two sources of relatively unbiased reporting about this - BBC World Service and the BBC television news channel.
What's very sad is that the feeble government ministers, spokespeople, etc who have all been caught on the hop, will continue to politicize and polarize and use their platitudes as pre-election rhetoric without actually addressing the true social issues.
It's not like we haven't been here before. Though everyone who's afraid to take the blame is saying exactly that.
Sad, sad, sad.
|
|
|
|
w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 12:08:06
|
| This all sounds vaguely familiar here in the US: read that Watts, Los Angeles proper, Chicago, Detroit, etc. etc. It is sad when it happens and tends to leave everyone feeling impotent. Sorry it is going on. |
|
|
|
Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 13:21:20
|
quote:
Almost. It wasn't his family who held a protest march, it was a small and universally acknowledged peaceful group of people who just wanted some answers...
Apologies, my error.
quote:
...about why the police would randomly stop a taxi, being driven by a black man and with an unarmed black passenger, and shoot him dead
It appears that someone in the vicinity was carrying a weapon.
quote:
The police themselves are in a period of very low morale, their budgets having been slashed. They were also very mindful not to do anything to be accused of excessive force. All the live shots I saw bore witness to their exemplary patience in the presence of verbal provocation, and even when chairs, etc were thrown at them.
Low morale - absolutely. Mrs C is a civilian working at the local Police HQ. There are a lot of very unhappy people in the building. Central governent have imposed severe budget cuts in many areas of public employment (police, health, teaching, civil service etc) and people feel that they are being made to pay for the banking industry's ineptitude. Everyone who works there wants to do a good job and have pride in the force. Unfortunately, the politicians in central government, who have probably never done a real days work in their lives, are sticking a dirty great spanner in the works.
quote:
What's very sad is that the feeble government ministers, spokespeople, etc who have all been caught on the hop, will continue to politicize and polarize and use their platitudes as pre-election rhetoric without actually addressing the true social issues.
Same old thing, never expected anything different.
What is worrying is that there are a lot of football matches due to be played tonight and tomorrow night, andd people will use it as an excuse for going out and causing trouble. Several games have been called off already, including the England vs Holland match at Wembley. Mrs C and I will be watching Ipswich tonight. Let's hope the idiots decide to stay at home. |
Edited by - Chris C on 08/10/2011 22:27:17 |
|
|
|
randall
"I like to watch."
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 14:43:26
|
| What's important is that you all are ok. benj, could you check in pls? Other Brits? |
|
|
|
Rovark
"Luck-pushing, rule-bending, chance-taking reviewer"
|
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 18:35:25
|
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by Chris C
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
Is this more of that soccer stuff?
None of this is football related.
It started after police shot and killed a man in London last week. His family held a protest march, and the anti-police nutters tagged along and started the trouble.
This is the latest from the BBC.
Almost. It wasn't his family who held a protest march, it was a small and universally acknowledged peaceful group of people who just wanted some answers about why the police would randomly stop a taxi, being driven by a black man and with an unarmed black passenger, and shoot him dead. At that time, Saturday, no statement had been issued and their requests had been ignored. This is a mixed-race neighbourhood which had a good record of social cohesion. Relations with the police had greatly improved from the riots some 20 years ago.
Woolwich town centre's a mess, the whole area's shuting down ready for tonight including Eltham 2 miles to the south which is where I live.
Just for info, not a random stop, the "victim" was well known to police. The problem is that normally when there's a violent or suspicious death, a police liaison officer keeps the family in the loop. Unfortunately, the IPCC didn't do this,.
And yes, community relations have been better since a mob from Broadwater machete'd PC Blakelock to death all those years ago.
Sorry BBabe but my more liberal sensibilities are kinda wearing thin on this one.
Anyhoo guys, see y'all tomorrow ( hopefully  ) |
Edited by - Rovark on 08/09/2011 18:39:31 |
|
|
|
bennyr81
"Poland here i come"
|
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 19:01:00
|
I live in Manchester City centre and last night got a little out of hand - shops were looted, cars were set on fire. Leaning out of my window late at night hundreds of young kids roamed the streets hooded up with their faces covered talking about where to go next and smashing anything that could be smashed.
We cleaned up after the IRA bomb and the glasgow rangers fans who ran riot but we never thought we would have to clear up after our own people.
Hopefully this will disappear soon and we can get on as before
|
Edited by - bennyr81 on 08/10/2011 19:03:10 |
|
|
|
benj clews 
"...."
|
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 19:45:54
|
quote:
Originally posted by randall
What's important is that you all are ok. benj, could you check in pls? Other Brits?
Sorry, just spotted this. Yep, am fine- the worst we got the night before last was a branch of Blockbuster Video broken into. And last night nothing happened at all. Hopefully it'll be equally quiet in the rest of the UK tonight.
On a side note, don't know if anyone else saw this, but sales of baseball bats and police batons (didn't even know you could buy these!) on amazon.co.uk are up over 5000%! Clearly there's a lot of people ready to go all Chuck Norris on these little buggers. |
|
|
|
Rovark
"Luck-pushing, rule-bending, chance-taking reviewer"
|
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 20:17:12
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rovark
Woolwich town centre's a mess, the whole area's shuting down ready for tonight including Eltham 2 miles to the south which is where I live.
Anyhoo guys, see y'all tomorrow ( hopefully )
ok, so last night they hit Eltham. Kinda
What actually happened is a large group of self styled 'patriots' made up of The English Defence League (a bunch of neo-nazi, white supremecist thugs) and some Millwall supporters ( for whom kicking a leather ball is almost as much fun as kicking a black man. Or any man who doesn't support Millwall come to think of it) got together around a pub just off the high street, got blathered, then 'assisted' the police by attacking any non white (and therefore potential rioteer)person who came within view. Police kept them back and were then amused by the fact that when these 'patriots' ran out of non-whites to abuse, they started having a crack at each other.
The police cells are full and it takes over 2 hours to process a prisoner anyway so unofficial policy when coming across a looter is to tell them to "drop it and f**k off, or get nicked".
Rumour control says they'll cordon off the town centre tonight. Just hope that doesn't mean they move the trouble off to the side streets instead (like mine )
Laters
|
|
|
|
Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
|
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 22:10:24
|
Keep safe, Rovark.
The Sky News TV cameras are in Eltham tonight.
Fortunately, Ipswich has remained peaceful. There was a low crowd at the football last night, no doubt as a result of potential trouble. Sitting watching a poor game we didn't hear any police sirens in the distance and we were confident that we would find the car in one piece at the end of the night. |
|
|
|
Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
|
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 23:04:53
|
| BREAKING NEWS: Libya recognises UK rioters as official government of the UK. |
|
|
|
Improper Username 
"inappropriately amused"
|
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 18:09:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by Se�n
BREAKING NEWS: Libya recognises UK rioters as official government of the UK.
  |
|
|
|
BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
|
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 19:55:26
|
Saudi Arabia announces no-fly zone over riot cities to protect UK citizens.
 
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
London Riots
