Quote Originally Posted by Englishman2010 View Post
I can fully understand that John, and I'm sure there is some logic in it. However, in the meantime, peoples homes and livelihoods are destroyed as the Police watch. Quite rightly, they are very upset about this, and don't necessarily agree with that justification.

Hundreds of millions of pounds worth of stock has been looted from shops, most of which will never be recovered. Although it will be covered by insurance, ultimately, we all end up paying for it through higher insurance premiums in the future.

There is also the question of loss of earnings/profits for the businesses and employees who's shops have been destroyed while the police let the looters help themselves.

There isn't an easy answer to this, if the Met had gone in heavy handed to begin with, would it have made the situation worse? Hopefully lessons have been learned and the public will support the Police if they are more robust in future. Whatever comments others make, I have always supported our Police and always will, the Bobby on the street has a thankless and often dangerous job. The majority of Police I have met, are very good people and deserve full support and co-operation from the public, and we have to accept that sometimes they get it wrong. None of us are perfect
As was said on Question Time last night by former senior officer B Paddick the Met is rudderless at the top at present and senior officers made the catastrophic error of treating the whole thing as a Public Order matter rather than hordes of rampaging criminals.

Since 1997 when Labour took office the Met's higher echelons have been riddled with politically correct, time serving apparatchiks who instead of maintaining law and order are solely concerned with statistics/targets, their image, human rights, health and safety along with where the next free lunch is coming from.

For the ordinary copper who wants to do his job, catch criminals and protect the public it must be a frustrating organisation to work for. I still think the job for life, early retirement and fat taxpayer funded pension aspects need reviewing