Police Station in Sunderland set on fire tonight

I think this thread has derailed. Can nothing be discussed without it being turned into an argument about immigration?

I’m paraphrasing singer Joe Solo here:

“Today folks will gather in their communities to clear up the mess. In doing so, they will bond with their streets, their communities and each other.

This is something the haters will never understand.

The brush is stronger than the brick.”

I commend Joe Solo to you

winterwhite

I think this thread has derailed. Can nothing be discussed without it being turned into an argument about immigration?

Indeed, there is a thread where it can be discussed freely. I've seen no deletions on it.

The individuals and organising groups for the riots, given by what is on SM and the slogans

are deliberately and maliciously conflating a hatred for our muslim communities with migration. I do hope that isnt happening in here.

I do hope that isnt happening in here.

I'm so glad to hear when communities come together after a riot out of what we have in common, not what divides. us, which is to live and work without fear.

STATEMENT THREAD: The ongoing scenes in Rotherham are beyond appalling. Far-right racists have besieged, attacked and tried to burn down a hotel housing asylum seekers. They did so while chanting Tommy Robinson’s name as well as “burn it” and “set it alight.

x.com/hopenothate/status/1820122322986037543?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Am I wrong to think it would be right to send in the army with water cannon to deal with these thugs who are tearing up our towns

Marthjolly1

Am I wrong to think it would be right to send in the army with water cannon to deal with these thugs who are tearing up our towns

The use of water cannon is not permitted in England and Wales.

I'm not sure that the army would be any use, they're not trained to deal with civilians. Besides, what do you think the army would do that police can't do? Shoot people?

It's just been raised other thread, and I'm not sure how many UK situations its helpful in.

For example amongst the crowd of rioters in Rotherham - which was an appalling situation - there were children amongst the back of the crowd, possibly older people. (Visible on images) Imagine the consequences.

It may be that a situation could develop where it would be effective, but second guessing the situation in advance and getting cannons there within the hour or so?

There's also damage done, powerful cannons on property, especially if its in a residential area - could it affect utilities?

Just watching rioters on TV. Have to say many in the streets look like local people. Seems to be women as well as men, children out there too.

I'm sure there are some locals mixed in there with the rent a thug lot, yes in Rotherham pictures show there was a young boy and his mum in the crowd for example but he wasn't near the violent action/setting fire.

However, in the case of Rotherham and the others we cant say just how far those "looking like locals" have travelled from neighbouring areas.

and being "local" makes no difference if they take part in attacking mosques or libraries or food banks or the police anyway.

A lot of the rioters are locals I expect. It is dangerous but will only inflame things if water cannons /army are sent in. There is a law now against incitement to hate, isn't there. Why can't they prosecute the more extreme propagators of anti-muslim & anti-migrant propoganda? They are more to blame than a lot of the rioters, who think that migrants really are the sole cause of all their troubles, because that's what they're being told.

valdali The ring-leaders can afford expensive lawyers. "Incitement to hate" is fairly meaningless because people would claim they were only exercising free speech. There would be a risk they would make themselves look like martyrs.

Growstuff - Yes I agree there are all those drawbacks. But it would be a symbolic action to show that there is a line beyond which free speech becomes something more sinister & if nothing is done, the ring-leaders will go further and get nastier; I honestly believe some of them are just demagogues, they get off on the influence they can have over the public, they don't actually believe their own drivel & would back off pdq if they were held to account.

Watched the (ITV) news and was very impressed with Starmer's statement and clarity, and the clearly angry police leader who said we are going to get them! Even fingerprinting stuff used to batter buildings.
but its heart breaking the suffering its causing - only ameliorated by locals saying, "this isnt us!"

I'm appalled to see some women in the crowds of thugs.

JSO activists were imprisoned for 5 years for planning to close a motorway for 24 hours. Inciting others to injure police officers, burn buildings, looting and the like is far worse in my opinion

vegansrock

JSO activists were imprisoned for 5 years for planning to close a motorway for 24 hours. Inciting others to injure police officers, burn buildings, looting and the like is far worse in my opinion

Shall we wait util some prosecutions have been completed before commenting on the length of sentences?

Pictures in Rotherham show women and a child in the crowd but standing well back from the active rioting.

vegansrock

JSO activists were imprisoned for 5 years for planning to close a motorway for 24 hours. Inciting others to injure police officers, burn buildings, looting and the like is far worse in my opinion

I agree. Rioters should go down for more than 5 years and those who encourage them on social media similarly.

Someone on Jeremy Vine (a caller-in) suggested spraying rioters with indelible dye so they could be identified and rounded up later. Not a bad idea, except that it would still have to be proved that they were rioting as opposed to protesting or just passing through.

I'm interested in this person who calls himself Tommy Robinson. Let me say, straightaway, that I have not seen him, nor read or heard any of his utterances.
However, my understanding is that he is, currently, resident in Spain.
I'm happy to be corrected if I am wrong, but suspect that he might be living in a country
a) in which he has no right of residence
b) in which he does not speak the language
c) is not a member of the prevailing church ( Roman Catholic)
d) in which he is not working
Does anyone see a just a little sense of hypocrisy in this?
Of course, I do know the real reason he's there- to embrace and learn from, other cultures, obviously.

Here you are Clg

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Robinson_(activist)

he's a fake

JaneJudge

he's a fake

I've heard him called worse 😈.

vegansrock

JSO activists were imprisoned for 5 years for planning to close a motorway for 24 hours. Inciting others to injure police officers, burn buildings, looting and the like is far worse in my opinion

And they’ll get the right sentence, just like the JSO lot.

A Fake? He’s just ghastly.