CAMDEN RIOTS: Glenda Jackson says 'Send in the army!'
TUESDAY AUGUST 9, 2011
BY RICHARD OSLEY, TOM FOOT and DAN CARRIER
HAMPSTEAD and Kilburn MP Glenda Jackson said this afternoon that it is time to "send in the army" to break up riots that have swept across London and hit Camden Town and Chalk Farm overnight.
She told the New Journal: "This has been completely unacceptable. Don't give credence to the argument that these are deprived children, they all have Blackberries. It's time to send in the army and water cannons. It has all been too softly softly so far. And where are the parents?"
She added: "This is just kids having a bloody good time and it is utterly unacceptable. You don't shit on your own doorstep. It is just disrespectful and disgusting. These kids have simply lost it. They are terribly brave as a group but they are all bloody cowards."
Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson said he also wants to see swifter and stronger action. "I called the Home Secretary as I wanted to directly express the concerns of people and businesses living and working in Camden. This is clearly inexcusable and there is no social or political motive. This is arson and theft."
He added: "This has got to be stopped. This behaviour is making our city, where most people live quite happily, seem totally anarchic and uncivilised. The police must be supported and if they need to use harsher measures, then that is what they will have to do. If they see people breaking into shops, they should make arrests using snatch squads. A copper can run faster than someone carrying a stolen TV set. They need to be picked up and dealt with. The police must be allowed to use baton rounds if they need to."
Mr Dobson said the rioters were "not necessarily the most deprived young people or people who are out of work who are responsible. It seems to be other factors, especially in some areas. In the end this is the nastiest manifestation of the creed of greed. Young people need mentors and people who will set an example and there are sadly far too many examples in our society of people who do not give a stuff about anyone else. They want to simply line their own pockets at the expense of everyone else. Whether it is bonuses for bankers, MPs fiddling their expenses, coppers who take illegal handouts from Rupert Murdoch or professional footballers who get paid grotesque amounts and then behave terribly - we need to seriously think as a society how our role models behave and change that in long term."
* Twitter: The New Journal had three reporters on the scene last night for unrivalled coverage, follow live tweeting at @richardosley @tomfoot1 and @dannycarrier
Comments
Rioters
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-18 21:53.I think the Salvation Army would do more good than the military.
No surprises here
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-16 14:04.This is just what we should expect from a reactionary Tudor monarch like Elizabeth I. Oh hang on...
Driven to post from comments on twitter
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-11 15:01.I have little sympathy for Glenda in this debate. She's a seasoned (some would say very) campaigner so should know better than to come out with such reactive and controversial comments.
I've only two points to make. Firstly, I applaud the the first poster on comments re the army. Whilst we can't be certain, the presence of armed (one would presume) forces may have further inflamed and escalated the riots. Churchill sent the army in to try and calm down riots in Wales in 1910, a move which some historians say prevented the strikes from ending early, and generated huge discontent and negative attitude towards the English government.
Secondly, having a blackberry, or not, is no indicator of deprivation. Deprivation isn't just about money, it's about jobs, it's about hope, it's about respect for the community and respect for yourselves. It's no easy thing to pin down the causes for these riots - but we have high unemployment, we have kids not being able to go to university as it's getting too expensive, and we have cuts in social services.
So where do we go from here?
It's too easy to point the finger at these kids and say it's their fault. They're just looting, rioting, they're just stupid and have no respect. It's also too easy to point the finger and say accountability comes from the top.
I would point the finger at all of us. We all contribute to a society, we voted these people into power. In the same way that we've seen small groups of communities stand up and prevent their properties being looted, and much bigger groups of people clearing up after the riots, I would say it's about time we all stopped apportioning blame and work out what we can do to make a difference.
Some of these things are big, and some small. I'm no expert and there's probably thousands of things we can do to make a difference, but here's some examples - being less selfish, better parenting, voting in people who can make a difference, voluntary community service, picking up litter, having respect for your elders, and kids as well, talking to your neighbours, making yourself heard on local forums.
I can't see where on this form to put my name, but I'm happy to stand by and discuss these views. You can catch me on twitter, I'm @KilburnLondon.
Finally, a big thanks for all the policemen, and other officers that are still working around the clock to try and make us all safe.
PROPERTY IS THEFT
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-11 14:45.SHEER CLASS SNOBBERY WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS THE RICH CLASSES OF SUBURBAN HAMPSTEAD .
Back to Belfast
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-11 06:59.Just what is the army supposed to do? Using an aggressive force, with recent experience of fighting a tenacious enemy, to enforce order in a democracy? The moment a stand-off between the army and the mob escalates, the situation will no doubt deteriorate and casualties will ensue - does Glenda really want to revisit 1970s Belfast or a Bloody Sunday? We already pay for the police to have the appropriate training and be resourced to deal with this type of situation. Why don't they deal with it? Probably now chasing after those who hack Celebs' phones. The next thing Glenda will be asking for will be Bring Back the Birch!
Bring in the Sally Army
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-18 21:58.I think the Salvation Army would do more good than the military
The Salvation Army
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-18 21:56.I think the Salvations Army would do more good than the military
Well said Glenda
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-08-10 04:20.I agree with Glenda these are NOT deprived children, they do have Blackberries and they plundered Camden High Street for more Mobile Phones, Computer Games and Sneakers.
The actions of the mindless morons ransacking Camden on Monday night were simply those of lawless greedy people wanting something for nothing.
I was unfortunate enough to witness some of their antics. They make me sick. They deserve a strong response from the army.
take some responsibility
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 21:58.it's about time people stopped trying to think of things or organisations to blame - it's quite simple the people actually doing the looting are the ones that need to carry the responsibility for this and need to be made to deal with the consequences - tracked down, arrested and given serious sentences.
We need to relearn as a society that actions have consequences, for ourselves and for others, and stop trying to blame everyone and everything else for things we have done. All it takes is a little respect for ourselves and each other.
Glenn Jackson
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 21:21.I tended to think Glenn Jackson was a reasonably intelligent person, but if she really did say 'It's time to send in the army and water cannons.' then clearly she's bloody stupid,
Glenda Jackson sounds like a
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 18:53.Glenda Jackson sounds like a rabid Tory! You don't get this kind 'mass behaviour' spontaneously. It's been brewing up for years, we live in a society obsessed with consumerism and aspirations of celebrity culture. Disaffected groups have nothing to lose.
Glenda Jackson sounds like a
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 18:53.Glenda Jackson sounds like a rabbid Tory! You don't get this kind 'mass behaviour' spontaneously. It's been brewing up for years, we live in a society obsessed with consumerism and aspirations of celebrity culture. Disaffected groups have nothing to lose.
You are thinking exactly what
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 18:23.You are thinking exactly what the public wants. We have had enough of these pack rats who are stealing to feather their nests. I was born and bred in Tottenham but I got myself out through an education and keeping myself away from those people who have no ambition or any want to change their situation. There is some great churches in London who have great youth programmes but its a pity that no one is looking. It's time to give the army and police the powers to deal with this situation and bring the city back to the majority. Destroying peoples home and businesses is a disgrace and these people should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law. I hate thieves its the lowest of the low - Scum bags!!! Tear gas & rubber bullets then lets see how big they are.
Talk about OUT OF TOUCH Glenda
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 17:34.And Haringey just happens to be where in the last few months THIRTEEN out of EIGHTEEN community centres have been closed. The government talks to the IRA, the Taliban, to Coln Gaddaffi.....it wont even talk to it's own children thoough. I know who I'm ashamed of and it's not the kids on the streets.
Glends it's hard to identify isnt it whne you've had such aprivalidged life...it's a shame but it's actually people like you who are the alienated ones.
What a total crock
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-08-10 10:34.I know that if I were "deprived" like these morons I would go straight for an electronics shop, smash the windows and steal a plasma because clearly that will make life better.
Even better, I think next I would go rob and destroy some immigrant's hard-earned shop because that is "teaching the rich". After that I will just run down three men in a working class neighborhood because they tried to protect their "privileged" neighborhood.
I am not wealthy or even remotely comfortable, I work a hard job, I get paid little and I can't afford a blackberry, I am not out there destroying people's property, lives and livelihoods.
These weak arguments that coddle common criminals because they are "children" are ridiculous and everyday people aren't buying what you are selling.
If the government doesn't want to do something to stop them, people should get anything that cuts or bludgeons and finish the job the police couldn't.
sorry - you shot yourself in the foot I'm afraid.
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-08-10 10:17.If you'd said "I'm ashamed for the kids on the street AND you Glenda" your post would have had credibility. Instead, it falls into the standard trap of appearing to absolve indecent acts in your haste to condemn G J. Lost that argument I'm afraid - better luck next time....
Glenda and riots
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-08-10 06:14.Glenda's life was not so privileged; she knows personally what it was like to work in the kinds of shops now being looted and burnt. The problem is that a subculture of youth exclusion has grown over decades where drugs, weapons and instantly -- and illegally -- available trinkets have replaced any loyalty to the wider society.
Talk to them? They no longer listen to anyone outside their gangs, and they know -- and have already closed their ears to -- whatever you say. For this hard core a new youth club or two is probably too late. The followers are too scared to swim against the current of this whirlpool, even when back in the day they know it's all wrong. Most of these outcasts won't be going to any community centre anyway, unless to cause trouble or rob it. For them, life is nasty, brutish, and all too often, short. The usual deterrents are failing. Media images of instant (if ephemeral) “success” abet this mindset, as does a far wider feeling that “everyone else is on the fiddle” from the top down.
Unlike politically articulate protests, they have no message for us. We do do have one for them: you really don't win an Oscar by smash-and-grab.
Wake up to the reality MP's
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-08-09 20:29.Unbelievable, Accountability starts from the top & MP's are no different, stating that the Army should be deployed from an MP is totally irresponsible thing to say, the Met are under HO instructions and Government need to support the Met in crisis situations like this.....the Met on the whole are just as frustrated at whether being too heavy handed or too softly softly.... its about time the Government, Public and NSY allow the police to deal with this out of control with swift harsh hard measures....Communities all over London and the Country are terrified at the lack of Leadership & control of reclaiming our streets, when Businesses and residents have to barracade themselves to defend their lives and livelyhood then this Country has serious gone wrong....act where it matters MP's...
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