Scotland Yard takes offense to David Cameron’s take on riot response

I think after any event like this, people will always make comments who weren’t there.
Scotland Yard Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin • Offering a rebuttal to the tough comments Prime Minister David Cameron made about the police response to the riots in London and throughout the United Kingdom. Mind you, Godwin has a point — see, Cameron, top policing official Theresa May and London Mayor Boris Johnson all happened to be on vacation at the time, and only came back to the country after the crisis got out of control. British police officers have arrested around 1,051 people since the attacks began, and roughly 591 have been charged with crimes thus far. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

To the lawless minority, the criminals who have taken what they could, we will hunt you. … We will punish you.
British PM David Cameron • Offering tough words to looters and rioters as Britain attempts to rein in a set of riots that have expanded beyond London and into other cities. While he admitted local officials were not ready for such a breakout of violence, he did praise community leaders who helped restore normalcy. Damage from the riots is estimated to top $300 million. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

We cannot afford to be divided in our pain and pursuit of justice and unity that involves every aspect of our community — from our grass roots groups, our businesses, our politicians and our police. Police need our consent, and the community needs good policing because the night Tottenham burned, all civilians needed each other.
Community activist Symeon Brown • Offering his take on the situation in London, where protests against a man’s death in Tottenham, north London descended into chaos on three consecutive nights. Brown’s take, which he wrote for CNN, notes that “We must reclaim the streets in London” — that is, move beyond the violence currently engulfing the streets. Brown compares the spark for the violence, the shooting death of local resident Mark Duggan, to the deaths of Cherry Groce and Cynthia Jarrett, which led to two separate 1985 riots in London, one of which led to the death of police officer Keith Blakelock. “Although we have lost buildings and landmarks that have been a part of Tottenham’s heritage,” he argues, “the spirit that saw us overcome the deaths of Cynthia Jarrett and PC Blakelock in 1985 is all we have.” source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

This was appalling and unacceptable violence which put people’s lives and safety at risk and must not be tolerated. An independent investigation into the shooting of Mark Duggan had already begun last week, and that is the right way to respond.
Shadow Home Office Minister Shabana Mahmood • Reacting to anger in the Tottenham region of London over the fatal shooting of resident Mark Duggan at the hands of police. Buildings were set ablaze, buses were reduced to their frame, looters posted pictures of themselves stealing stuff on Twitter and dozens of police officers were injured overnight. At least 42 people were arrested for violent disorder, theft or burglary. To put it simply, it was not a particularly good night for the region. source

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201 people were arrested after London’s austerity protests last night
100 street cleaners worked overnight to fix the damage caused
tens the amount, in thousands of pounds, officials say cleanup will cost source

» And ol’ Clocky suffered “superficial damage”: A number of major structures were hit, including the Olympic clock, the memorial, the Ritz and Fortnum and Mason, were damaged. Nearby businesses may have also gotten nailed very badly.

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12 Aug 2011 11:19