Why Were There Riots In Salford and Manchester this Summer?

A report commissioned by the Cabinet Office looked into the causes of this Summer’s riots across Britain. The report has looked into five areas hit by the riots, Peckham, Tottenham and Clapham Junction in London together with Birmingham and Salford. It also compared these to areas that were unaffected being Poplar in East London and Firth Park in Sheffield. The views previously held by Ministers such as Iain Duncan Smith that gangs had played significant roles have proved to be false. The main causes appear to be as follows:

1. Party/rave atmosphere.
2. Opportunism.
3. Excitement.
4. Perception that people could get away with it and encouraged by seeing older people involved.
5. Feeling that there was one rule for the rich and another for poor.
6. Unhappiness with the Police and Authority.
7. Continued anger about MPs expenses and the greed of the banking industry.

On the issue of MP expenses, you can’t help but feel that whilst not condoning the riots in any way there is a point in that many MPs fiddled their expenses to a substantial degree and with a very few exceptions then said they were sorry and paid some money back and that was the end of the matter. The banking industry went on a free for all and made some horrific mistakes built entirely on greed and have found themselves rewarded by a massive bail out by the Government and continued bonuses. Whilst this may be a huge simplification of the reality, it is a perception that appears difficult to challenge.

In collecting information one young person who was involved in the riots and was in custody commented, “There was no need for people to rob each other when there was so much to steal from the Shops.” Another young person in Salford when asked about the riots said, “Why steal from Lidl when the stuff is so cheap? It’s a good place, that. You can go in with a tenner and get three or four weeks’ food.”

Whilst theft, violence and public disorder cannot ever be condoned the underlying causes need to be understood and tackled by this Government if we are not to have a repeat of the riots in months to come.

RBS have now reported a profit, but in truth their figures hide a very substantial loss. Their investment arm is barely profitable and yet they seem to have the power to decide who and which businesses deserve their support as if they have any grasp on economics or knowledge of the market or ability to run a business. Furthermore Bob Diamond, the Head of Barclays, now says he is sorry for what has gone on in the banking crisis. This seems to be a substantial change of tack from his previous non acceptance of responsibility.

With rioters now serving lengthy terms of imprisonment for their crimes, what is to be the punishment for the banking leaders for their creation of the crisis in the first place whilst they were on their party high?

As for the MPs at least we all know they are very sorry. Sorry they got caught!