Me & The Riot

After watching three days of news reports about the London Riots, which have spread out across half of the country, I counted myself as well of harms way down in quiet old Hollingbourne, just out of Maidstone.
I ate my words when I went into Maidstone late yesterday afternoon to have lunch and pick up some groceries. Word spread quickly about the pub that there was a large mob congregating about a half a mile down the street, so I scoffed how my food and polished of my pint, and walked to the grocer, 50 yards down the road from the Pub.
The streets were full of youths, all around my age, some much younger just wandering about. Police were trying to disperse everyone and send them all home, but it was to no avail. One lad had been assaulted and was in the hands of a police officer.
I quickly gathered my groceries and spoke to the shop attendant who said the shop was going to be closing early. It seemed most of the businesses were looking at closing early, I am very doubtful that any of the pubs would have been open in Maidstone last night.
Once I’d done my shop, I walked to the train station, keeping my eyes to the floor, as I had valuables on me (laptop, phone & wallet). I had seen on the news that people had not only been attacking shops and homes, but they had been readily attacking people too.
Without a fuss, I got to the train station, boarded the train and felt that within moments, Maidstone was going to erupt, just as I’d seen happen to countless other towns and cities on the news. That it was going to be the next Clapham Junction or Croydon (pictured).
There really is no need for this senseless destruction, its just so pointless. I can totally understand a riot fuelled by emotion, for example a riot over a pay dispute or poor working conditions.
But this is just meaningless. They don’t have a reason to be rioting.
What I have been quick to notice is that the people of the city have tried to blame Police and public servants, saying that because they did not act fast enough. They’re trying to blame the police because they have lost a home or a business, but its just not fair to blame the police.
The only people at fault here are the people who are committing the crimes. These people should be held very much responsible for their actions and I don’t think it should be entirely up to the insurance companies to foot the bill for this.
I think it should be those kids have who have gone out over the last few night and smashed windows, set fire to buildings, assaulted people, looted and robbed shops above all else, attacked police officers.
There is once case where two people have been charged with attempted murder for trying to run a police officer over with a car.
Latest news is that 111 police officers and 7 police dogs have been injured during the riots since Saturday and on Monday night a man in Croydon was shot and died due to the subsequent injuries sustained in the shooting.
I believe that with 16,000 police on the streets of London tonight, and every night until the unrest settles, will make certain that these dishonest, careless criminals will be brought to justice.