Universally condemned by the House of Commons
David Cameron takes a hard line towards the actions of the rioters: “We will not put up with this in our country”
Admits there are questions to be answered about the shooting of Mark Duggan
Cameron doesn’t feel there was any political motivation behind the riots- the peaceful protest over Duggan’s death was “used as an excuse by opportunist thugs in gangs”
Cameron admits that there were problems with policing during the riots
The issues with policing are brought up by several politicians. The main point made is that police treated the riots as a ‘public order issue’ rather than the serious criminality it actually was.
Nadine Dorries, Conservative MP for Bedfordshire, also brings up the issue of resources available to the police- if the police had had access (or easier access) to plastic bullets, tear guns and water cannons, would the situation have spiralled out of control so quickly?
Malcolm Wicks, the Labour MP for Croydon North highlighted the fact that for hours in Croydon, rioters were able to loot without any officers around.
Some MPs question whether the young age of some of the rioters caused the police to act with less force
Despite their condemnation of the riots, politicians admit that the crimes have causes that must be tackled. Need to find out why people felt that they had something to gain from looting and vandalism and nothing to lose, also why some of the rioters were so young.
Some MPs mention possible plans to try and reclaim those involved in the violence back into society, also questioning why they are going against the communities they live in.
Certain MPs (notably Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire) feel that “Those who seek to excuse that behaviour, putting it down to deprivation, poverty or current government policies, are themselves symptomatic of the no-blame, no-responsibility culture that has undermined our society and led us into this sorry state”
Like Bridgen, many MPs also focus on what is wrong with the younger generation. Ed Milliband wants an end to “a take-what-you-can culture”, whilst other MPs, including Cameron, also cite the rise of street gangs as a factor in the riots.
Some MPs also focus on the role of social media and the internet in the riots. The use of Twitter and Facebook to spread news about the riots and provide communications for rioters worries some politicians. Cameron mentions that there are plans to talk to social media companies to see what can be done about this danger.
Heidi Alexander, Labour MP for Lewisham East expresses her concerns about “the popularity and accessibility of internet footage glorifying gangs and knives”. Cameron also says that the younger generation glorify violence.
Although the actions of young people themselves are widely condemned, the majority of politicians make the point that parenting is just a big a factor in their actions as anything else. Want to make parents teach their children right and wrong, suggestions to hold parents responsible in court for the behaviour of their child, talks about broken families as a factor.
MPs also are concerned that people don’t try to racialise the issue, as people of all races and religions were involved. The Prime Minister agrees-“This was not about race, it was about crime”
Most MPs are also struck by how different the August riots were from notable riots of the past (specifically the 1981 riots in Brixton and Toxteth)- the Prime Minister highlights two key differences.
Firstly, he says how these riots were “not a political protest” and were simply “common of garden thieving, robbing and looting”.
He also mentions the timing and geography of the riots- “the same thing happening in different places with different people all doing it at the same time”
Source: House of Commons debate, Thursday 11th August 2011, 11.30am (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110811/debtext/110811-001.htm#1108117000001)
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