LONDON-The city’s police are out in force, about 16,000 officers strong, to deal with riots that have lasted three days, and retailers are being asked to take steps to protect properties. Government officials are rallying to halt the destruction, which some worry could stain the coming 2012 Summer Olympics being held in the city next year.
The City of London Police have issued a list of precautionary measures to business through a community update system, part of the City of London’s Security and Contingency Planning Group actions for major incident response. These measures include making retail premises as secure as reasonably possible, identifying areas vulnerable to forced entry, keeping service doors locked and making sure alarm and closed-circuit television systems are operational.
There have been a number of businesses looted and/or burned throughout the city, including reportedly a Sony distribution center near Enfield and Tesco stores in Ponders End and Bethnal Green. Many stores have closed early or remained shut as looters roam some streets unopposed. The police say they are fighting back. According to a Metropolitan Police statement, there have been 563 people arrested, and 48 police officers attacked, with some seriously injured. Officers have been attacked with bricks, bottles, planks of wood and other objects. “Local shops and businesses have been ruined, householders have been left homeless and great damage has been done to our local services and infrastructure,” said Police Chief Steve Kavanagh in the statement.
Reasons for the riots are varied, from the start in Tottenham on Saturday when police shot and killed Mark Duggan for unknown reasons, to the increased economic pressure by the government to deal with budget crisis issues. Boris Johnson, mayor of London, says in a statement that no reason is justification for the continued violence.
“I felt ashamed--ashamed at the actions of a small, but significant minority of our fellow Londoners, and the damage they are doing to their own economic prospects and the reputation of London around the planet,” Johnson said. “You don’t boost London’s job-generating prospects by smashing London’s shops. You don’t make it easier for small businesses to take on apprentices and interns by torching their premises. Nothing can conceivably excuse the wanton destruction of property belonging to people who have been responding to the recession in a different way--by working harder, and getting up at 5 a.m. to prepare their shops.”
Johnson admits that times have been tough, with the United Kingdom is going through the worst recession in 50 years. He said issues must be dealt with to end the riots and deal with the alienation of young people. “We will repair every shop. We will rebuild every damaged area. We will accelerate initiatives already underway to stimulate growth and enterprise in areas such as Croydon and Tottenham,” he said.
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