General discussion for (Tottenham) riots

StevieJ

FTBFun wrote: »

I see the Libyan Government is taking us to task for this!



Yes because a bunch of scumbags nicking trainers and TVs is exactly the same.

You can't blame them though can you? I bet tongue was firmly in cheek

vivatifosi

Poverty did lead to social exclusion in the 1970s just as it does now. Those who are a similar age to me will remember the kids whose families couldn't afford new clothes and dressed them from jumble sales or hand me downs. The wealthy kids were always the ones looked up to, either because they had holidays abroad, or they had the latest "toys" (be it a stereo or a bullworker) and the poor latchkey kids were always the ones picked on.

I do however agree that we need to do something about the invisible underclass. Part of that has to be expecting more from kids. I went to a school where we were routinely written off. It was and often still is one of the worst performing in the county. It was very rare that a teacher inspired us and little was expected of us. A lot of my school friends stole cars, one died aged 15 driving into a brick wall while chased by police. Some female friends left school pregnant. This is not massively different from now. Same low expectations from kids, same outcomes right?

Wrong. Of my class of 30 one kid went on to be an MBE. Another a CBE. Although we didn't go to university a lot have gone on to get an education post school. We shouldn't have had to, we should have been educated properly to start with.

There are bright kids in all schools. Living on a sink estate does not make someone thick. It doesn't make them have no prospects. More should be done to bring out those capabilities. !!!!!! we are talking about Tottenham, Hackney, Ealing. Places that are really close to the centre of the bright vibrant capital. There is a tube. People can commute. They don't have to stay on sink estates. There are parts of the country dying to have a job market that close. I'd lay good money on the young adults and kids behind this being actually very bright (doesn't stop them being stupid and lacking any common sense mind you).

vivatifosi

Mmmm... May need to rethink this "it's a bunch of disenfranchised kids" thing. Chief Constable of Manchester reporting that most of those arrested were adults (a few juveniles), the oldest of whom is 58. Blooming baby boomers, they are to blame for everything I tell you!

vivatifosi

Not entirely unexpected, but Bloomberg reporting massive increase in sales of baseball bats and police batons (article is from yesterday):

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/09/uk-britain-baseballbats-idUKTRE7784UF20110809

Graham_Devon

vivatifosi wrote: »

Mmmm... May need to rethink this "it's a bunch of disenfranchised kids" thing. Chief Constable of Manchester reporting that most of those arrested were adults (a few juveniles), the oldest of whom is 58. Blooming baby boomers, they are to blame for everything I tell you!

Yep I watched someone speaking about this, after the police appealed to the parents to be a true mancunian and "shop" (see whta I did there!?) their kids in.

Reporter on the move suggested in some cases, this was a family night out, with parents sending their kids in. We actually saw a family turn up in a car, kids and all, and join the looting in tesco.

Can't say it was your traditional family though. Was more a family from Chav Heights seeing an opportunity too good to miss.

The parents have breeded these kids. In a lot of cases, they will be actively encouraging it. They come from the same sink estates etc.

adouglasmhor

vivatifosi wrote: »

Not entirely unexpected, but Bloomberg reporting massive increase in sales of baseball bats and police batons (article is from yesterday):

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/09/uk-britain-baseballbats-idUKTRE7784UF20110809

Just to let people know - telescopic batons are illegal for civvy use, manufacture, import and possession in the UK - don't do it there are plenty of legal alternatives that won't see you with a record. (Until you clout someone you shouldn't have).

StevieJ

vivatifosi wrote: »

Mmmm... May need to rethink this "it's a bunch of disenfranchised kids" thing. Chief Constable of Manchester reporting that most of those arrested were adults (a few juveniles), the oldest of whom is 58. Blooming baby boomers, they are to blame for everything I tell you!

That is only because the were not arresting the kids, they were just making them take their face masks and caps off, no doubt the older scallys lot saw opportunities for easy pickings.

Graham_Devon

StevieJ wrote: »

That is only because the were not arresting the kids, they were just making them take their face masks and caps off, no doubt the older scallys lot saw opportunities for easy pickings.

Why were they not arresting them?

Did notice an older man pulled out from the crowd last night in Manchester. He was wearing a red top and baseball cap, had about 5 riot officers pulling him away and was being arrested. Didn't quite know what that was for. Looked close to his 60's, but they left the kids.

StevieJ

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Just to let people know - telescopic batons are illegal for civvy use, manufacture, import and possession in the UK - don't do it there are plenty of legal alternatives that won't see you with a record. (Until you clout someone you shouldn't have).

A four iron should do the job

StevieJ

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Why were they not arresting them?

There too many so they were going for quality arrests i.e. adults.