Are all our London brothers & sisters safe?

**Tobus** · 9th August 11, 06:30 PM

I've been watching the coverage of the riots and looting with horror. A good friend of mine is there currently, visiting her parents, and I haven't heard from her.

Can our London members check in and let us know if they're OK? How about a local report on what's happening?

**O'Callaghan** · 9th August 11, 07:23 PM

Joking apart, I'm safe because I'm in Maryland. I am horrified by what's going on back home, though.

There have been riots in England before, but none so widespread. For example, Toxteth, which is a part of Liverpool, and Brixton, which is in South London, both had riots at different times. This time the areas of London that have been affected include at least Tottenham and Enfield in the North, Hackney to the East, and both Lewisham and Peckham in South London, and there have also been riots outside London in both Liverpool and Birmingham.

An old GF of mine used to live in Peckham. Hope she's alright. Peckham always had good and bad areas, but the bad areas were very bad as I remember them. Nearby Lewisham had one nice street full of shops, and some rough residential areas. I used to enjoy eating in the Pizza Garden in Lewisham High Street. Hope they haven't burnt it down, if it was still there.

**Neil Clark** · 9th August 11, 10:26 PM

Wasn't as bad last night apparently. Good thing is we're confident it won't happen in Scotland.I'm actually concerned re some of the comments posted by my ex army pals on FB though, shows how this affects some people. Nit that we were known for our tolerance in the Guards in the first place.

No excuse for any of it.

**Jock Scot** · 9th August 11, 11:30 PM

I am not going to be an armchair ----ologist, but its appalling behaviour of a minority and it is not England's finest hour. As far as I am aware the general and law abiding "man in the street" is safe.

**Chirs** · 10th August 11, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am not going to be an armchair ----ologist, but its appalling behaviour of a minority and it is not England's finest hour. As far as I am aware the general and law abiding "man in the street" is safe.

Being, not an armchair but an actual, ----ologist I would point out that this is much larger than England and truly not the Western World's finest hour. Unfortunately, rather than being merely the appalling behaviour of a minority, this is a symptom of much larger concerns.

Putting all academic interest aside, I do sincerely hope that the damage, most especially to persons, is minimal.

**McClef** · 10th August 11, 02:02 AM

Riots are not a new phenomenon, they have happened certainly for the past three centuries also.

This time there have been a lot of opportunists for whom the "cause" is only an excuse to rob and loot and cause damage.

The only word for them is Scum.

I know that part of Clapham well as my union HQ was located there and I was on the NEC for 5 years - what was heartening though was to see the decent members of the community coming together to clean up.

**tulloch** · 10th August 11, 02:42 AM

Its really awful. This is why I have always sought less populated places. Its harder to get a riot going. I hope things get under control soon and that damage and injury can be kept to a minimum. Poor people.

**Phil** · 10th August 11, 03:19 AM

It seems that Britain has become a dangerous place to visit with foreign governments advising their nationals to stay away - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-citizens.html - not good news for next year's Olympics in London.

**Tobus** · 10th August 11, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

As far as I am aware the general and law abiding "man in the street" is safe.

I'm not so sure about that. I'm seeing stories of law abiding citizens having their houses invaded and looted. Business owners are having their life's work burned to the ground. From over here, the sense I get is that no one is safe unless they simply leave the area (in which case, they risk losing anything they leave behind).

**Jock Scot** · 10th August 11, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I'm not so sure about that. I'm seeing stories of law abiding citizens having their houses invaded and looted. Business owners are having their life's work burned to the ground. From over here, the sense I get is that no one is safe unless they simply leave the area (in which case, they risk losing anything they leave behind).

Whilst in places things are exactly as you describe, I think a sense of proportion is required here, London,Birmingham,Manchester, are not total riot zones with a whole city in flame.Far from it.