A couple of months ago my girlfriend and I and a couple of friends were having fun on a zip wire in a park in Coventry. We were just having a laugh, we weren’t even drinking or smoking. A couple of police officers came to us and said there had been trouble in the area recently. They asked us if we could give them our names so they “knew it was not us causing trouble” and they could cross us off their list of potential suspects. How ridiculous. I asked if it was compulsory to give our names, they said no and I did not give it to them. Although I admit it was a very mild incident, I was so angry and felt that somehow our freedom had been disturbed.

Two weeks ago, in Lewisham where I live, a group of 20 kids on bicycles were riding through the town together. They stopped on the pavement and 5 cars with about 10-15 plain clothes police officers stopped in front of them. The policemen got out of their cars, stood up there for 15 minutes and stared at the kids without saying a word. I imagine they had not committed any criminal offence since they did not get stopped and searched. It looked like pure provocation from the police.

My best friend has been struggling with work and money for years and years. He’s done so many low paid part-time jobs over the years and has never managed to get a really good job. He’s been working so hard for very little financial reward. He always struggles to pay the rent or bills. Sometimes he has to travel for a couple of hours to make £5 because he needs it for his prepay meter or food. He deems it worth it to travel for such a long time to earn so little because he has no choice. He has debt collectors bullying him on the phone all the time, he is treated with contempt by the social services and like a thief at the dole office.

Add to the mix the fact that everywhere you go there are adverts brainwashing you to buy stuff you don’t really need but you better have if you want to look cool or pull guys or girls. Add to the mix the price rises: food, heating, transport. Add to the mix the lack of job prospect for young people. Over the years the mix has become a very explosive one indeed and I don’t understand how anyone is surprised by what is happening today.

Yes, it’s very sad that businesses or private properties are being destroyed and it’s a worrying sight that some people are being put in danger, I sincerely hope no one gets hurt, mugged or burgled, even in the police camp. Yes, some people are just being opportunistic and steal stuff just because they can. Yet I think it’s a mistake to dismiss these riots as just opportunistic looting. A lot of people are fed up, it’s been simmering for too long. Now that there’s been an opportunity to express that anger, some people have decided to take it as there is very little to stop them. Let them trash the place as long as no one gets hurt, that’s what I think really. The police and the establishment have got to understand that enough is enough. I believe in business and private property but more importantly I believe in freedom, respect and a chance for everyone to have equal opportunities. And to all the people who join facebook groups supporting the police or posting comments saying that the rioters should be shot or the army brought in, I encourage them to quickly enroll with the police forces because they are probably going to need extra help tonight.

{ 1 comment }