Politicians and Protesters Assail British Police

The rioting in Britain has turned into a challenge to state authority and, for the police itself, one more entry in a catalog of crisis and condemnation. The riots got so bad that an emergency meeting had to be called on Thursday to discuss measures to curb the violence. According to Prime Minister David Cameron, police tactics had been inadequate when the rioting started in the north London area of Tottenham on Saturday. Scotland Yard commissioner, Tim Godwin, responded in remarks to reporters on Friday. He addressed the fact that politicians weren't present during the riots to criticize on the matter, apparently alluding to the overseas vacations of Mr.Cameron, Ms.May, and Bris Johnson, the mayor of London, who cancelled their holidays and returned home days after the rioting had begun.

Others criticize police brutality, however, they themselves were not present in the riots, hence, have not the slightest clue of the reality of a policeman's responsibility to clear the streets successfully without casualties. Imagine the scene. You are one of thirty riot officers. In front of you are about three hundred teenagers looting a shop. No backup. Significantly out numbered. Do you engage or do you contain the violence? As you stand menacingly on the street corner you are approached by the public trying to get past. If you push one of them and they fall and die you will stand trial for manslaughter. That's a HUGE responsibility to manage in the middle of a riot as a law enforcer as the eyes of the entire country look on.

On one hand, the rioters are rioting because the police are not"nice" to them. Second, the police are civilized--they have rules. The ''kids'' don't. It's almost impossible to win under those circumstances. Ignore issues like a broken window here, a dirty lot there, and soon the neighborhood is rioting. Bratton, former police commissioner of New York, focuses on those issues and might be helpful in restoring some order. So, I get why David Cameron consulted him when he realized British police commissioner has failed to do so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/world/europe/12police.html