London Riots – Weakness of authority

Published: August 11, 2011

SITTING here in the aftermath of the Camden riot it is the perfect opportunity to comment on what’s been happening across London.

Why do the media keep asking why this has happened as a result of the Mark Duggan shooting? The shooting was an excuse and no longer has anything to do with this. The rioters see this as a big finger up to the authorities even though it is hurting everyday people and family-run businesses.

The weakness of the authorities is being boasted about through areas all over London. These kids think that they can get away with it as no one is stopping them and the longer this goes on the more extreme these kids are going to take it.

There must still be a little bit of fear of the police after seeing people running up my road away from sirens (clutching stolen goods).

On Monday night I witnessed groups of youths on Camden streets, police vans and cars also littering the area. However when the youths were gathered comparing what they had stolen and shouting and talking to each other about how exciting it was and how the police had done nothing, for roughly 30 minutes on a street one away from Camden High Street the police were nowhere to be seen.

These kids need someone to assert some authority and show them that they can’t get away with it. Otherwise clearly this anarchy is going to continue.

Residents are terrified of their homes being fire-bombed and could be doing something to help to control this. However they have been told to stay inside their homes. Yet many people living in Camden are annoyed that people want to destroy our community like this.
Katie McDermott,
NW1