Brixton violence and looting (7th Aug 2011)
- Thread starter dozi
- Start date
TruXta
tired
That's besides the point. The point is to get people to ask themselves and others - how did it get to the stage where big groups of mostly young poor youth think that it's a good idea to loot and burn down shops and homes, some of them in their own communities?
And there are two aspects to that broad question; one proximal, looking at the events in the days and weeks leading up to this, and the other distal, looking at years and decades of change in these communities. Questions of reasons and justifications, two related but separate questions, can both be answered in a longer and shorter perspective. Not doing so is wilful and at times malicious ignorance as it excuses a focus on short-term individual motivations and dispositions over the larger context that allowed such motivations and dispositions to flourish.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Is McDonald's really on fire or is that just Twatter rumours? Also say Superdrug's been done
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
He was talking about the sirens. Centre of Brixton seems eerily quiet tbh. We've got our front windows open and would probably hear something like that but can't.
No it isn't, it'll discourage the others.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
A few shops (including Argos) got done last night.
quimcunx
imprimeo, lamino, distribuo
For a while. All it does is put the lid on the pot for a little while.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
I'm ignoring Twatter for any reliable info on Brixton now and relying on news from the Urbanites in Brixton
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I agree Brixton is eerily quiet and there hardly any people on the street. Every shop looks like it was told to close early.
TruXta
tired
What, in a year's time? Lots of people have been nicked already, I don't see that it's helped.
They can't bother us if they are in prison.
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
Definitely. We left The Albert at 10.30 and everywhere (even House of Bottles ffs) was shut. It's actually rather spooky and given that, last night and the attempted robbery in our building, I don't imagine I'll get much sleep tonight
quimcunx
imprimeo, lamino, distribuo
All of them? For how long? Life? If not life what will have changed when they get out? I'm not sure you've entirely thought this plan out.
This will probably stop in a few days. But there is a culture of violence in underclass communities that gives rise to what we are seeing. It should be squashed with very long prison sentences.
ShiftyBagLady
Thinks she is a flower to be looked at
Oh my.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
If every single one of them is rounded up and imprisoned, the number of people with the same mindset motives and means will not be zero this time next year. The problem is structural, the symptoms are temporal. "Messing with the leaves, when the roots are sick"
The young commit most criminal offences. Until they are not young any more. That should do the trick.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Sounds like Brixton is the quietest place in London atm barring the sirens!
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
And then they come out of prison uneducated, even more disposessed and probably having learnt to do crime better. It's really not so simple.
TruXta
tired
No it wouldn't. Look to the states. Look to Russia. Look to anywhere where "more prison" is thought to be the answer. It isn't.
For instance, the rate of homicide, and other violent crime, in the United States used to be very much higher than it is now. A policy of very long sentences has reduced it.
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
And probably only slightly cheaper than university. I'm gonna get on the phone to No10 and suggest this.
wheelie_bin
Well-Known Member
It seems we have exported our Brixton youth to Clapham Junction. Worrying about the fires up there - all those flats above party superstore and above carphone warehouse, very worrying.
TruXta
tired
The rate of violent crime in the USA in 2009 was more or less the same as in 1979. Homicide rates have stagnated. And they are still far higher than in Europe. Access to good birth control (ie legal abortion) in the 70s and a massive drop in lead exposure (which is well linked to crime levels) are also important contributory factors. In fact, if you look at the graph, you can easily see that a massive drop in crime coincided with the Clinton administration, and tapered off as Bush 2 came into power.
wheelie_bin
Well-Known Member
BBC news has pictures - smoke from party superstore, looked like just smoke but then fire from the ceiling and now massively burning.
