Brixton violence and looting (7th Aug 2011)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Well went to the Sainsbury's up Brixton Hill and busier than I've ever, ever seen it. Heard one woman at the till saying she worked at King's College Hospital and all non-essential personnel had been told to go home. Portuguese restaurants have their shutters down although were still open, and Green Market looked like it was opening up. Went into chemist and some kid walked in and demanded a plaster for a tiny little cut on his finger. Chemist was waiting to shut up but hadn't received instructions from his manager

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Fucking hell.

Just counted at least 12 heavily armoured police vans heading up the Hill

and a straggler behind them

and another straggler a few minutes later

 

[billythefish]

Brockwell Park definitely being closed - a friend living on the estate behind the Tulse Hill Tesco/Esso has just had the police van arrive to lock the gate.

 

[gaijingirl]

Just been booted out of the sand/water area in the park by the rangers. They said "we don't mean to panic anyone but we're sealing off the area"... they also said not the park just that area and the playground is still going strong - so a bit odd.

 

[Emet]

Reading the papers, it looks like we're edging toward the use of water cannon and/or plastic bullets.

 

[timothysutton1]

BBC News...
17:32 -The IPCC says the Forensic Science Service has also confirmed that the bullet lodged in a police radio was police issue and consistent with being fired from a police gun.

17:29 -The Independent Police Complaints commission says ballistic test results so far show no evidence that a handgun found at the scene of the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan had been fired. It says the Forensic Science Service is carrying out further tests to confirm this.

 

[ajdown]

Irrelevant to the looting.

 

[Badgers]

Ritzy signs state 'open as usual' but it is closed.

Brockwell Park was open 15 minutes ago

 

[Me76]

Reading the papers, it looks like we're edging toward the use of water cannon and/or plastic bullets.

Well it won't be water cannons unless we get them from somewhere as mainland UK doesn't have any. The nearest are in NI and they seem to be using them at the mo. Would take about 10 hours to get them over according to my army mate.

 

[Emet]

If Duggan looked as if he was about to fire a gun whether the bullet in the radio came from a police gun is a bit irrelevant.

 

[tomapep]

Sirens going up Tulse Hill just now.

 

[Megan40450]

Well it won't be water cannons unless we get them from somewhere as mainland UK doesn't have any. The nearest are in NI and they seem to be using them at the mo. Would take about 10 hours to get them over according to my army mate.

Aren't water cannons for crowd dispersal? Not really the right tool for this situation, I wouldn't have thought, anyway.

 

[Me76]

yeah - I think some one else on one of the threads said they would be useless in the kind of situations that have been happening. People would just run to a different area and the cannons would take ages to catch up.

 

[nashers21]

Is Sainsburys up on the hill still open? I phone Tesco Acre Lane on my way home who told me they were open but when I got there everything shuttered up, I am running seriously low on provisions!

 

[TruXta]

Reading the papers, it looks like we're edging toward the use of water cannon and/or plastic bullets.

Unusual sense from a copper, hope someone in charge takes his advice:

Orde, one of the only officers in the UK to have deployed plastic bullets, has spoken out against their use in London.​

He told me he does not see circumstances in which they should be used on the streets of London to quell the rioting seen over the last three days.​

As chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Orde - now president of Acpo - has used plastic bullets and water cannon against rioters.​

But he told The Guardian: "I do not think it would be sensible in any way shape or form to deploy water canon or baton rounds in London. Baton rounds are very serious bits of equipment. I would only deploy them in life threatening situations where my officers were under live fire, bombs or massive petrol bombs.​

"What is happening in London is not an insurgency that is going to topple the country. There are 8 million people in London and it is a tiny proportion doing this. They are gangs of looters and criminals and although it is concerning it has to be kept in proportion. "​

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is Sainsburys up on the hill still open? I phone Tesco Acre Lane on my way home who told me they were open but when I got there everything shuttered up, I am running seriously low on provisions!

It was when I was there around 2 hours ago and I asked one of the staff what time they were open 'til and she said as far as she knew 11.00pm unless they're told to close earlier

 

[nashers21]

Thanks

It was when I was there around 2 hours ago and I asked one of the staff what time they were open 'til and she said as far as she knew 11.00pm unless they're told to close earlier

 

[nashers21]

Just called them and they have told me they are closed in case anyone is thinking of heading up there!

 

[story]

just got sent home from work early. theres a nasty feel in the air in brixton again.

I thought it was all rather friendly when I was out at about 3 pm.

 

[gaijingirl]

Brazas_ Brazas Restaurant

We have opened our doors and would like to see many more ppl on this street do the same. Keep safe everyone.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Just called them and they have told me they are closed in case anyone is thinking of heading up there!

Glad I got up there before it shut then. I had a feeling it would shut early, didn't anticipate this early though

 

[story]

I'm struck by how differently I looked at people while out just now. As I came down from Tescos towards the Town Hall this guy comes up behind me and squeezes in between myself and a tree in order to cross the street. I move over and glance at him - he smiles and says don't panic.... I wasn't of course, but normally noone would say anything like that in such innocuous circumstances.

I was looking across the road, trying to see if Sainsbury's was open and a friendly fella stopped to ask if I was wondering about Sainsbury's, yes, it was open but operating a one-out-one-in policy.

Lots of people wanting to stop and chat all over Brixton.

 

[gabi]

Brazas_ Brazas Restaurant

We have opened our doors and would like to see many more ppl on this street do the same. Keep safe everyone.

I've opened my doors - im on the second floor tho..

off out there for a beer and play some guitar in the brixton sun

 

[story]

Reading the papers, it looks like we're edging toward the use of water cannon and/or plastic bullets.

But some of those kids on the street are... well, just kids. Are they really proposing to water-cannon and plastic-bullet youngsters?

 

[tendril]

Dare I post.....

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

But some of those kids on the street are... well, just kids. Are they really proposing to water-cannon and plastic-bullet youngsters?

Have had that discussion with someone today. Using water cannon and plastic bullets and batons on kids is only going to cause uproar, despite everyone wanting an end to this. Seems like the police have been treading on eggshells for fear of hurting kids. Fucked if they do, fucked if they don't

 

[tendril]

Have had that discussion with someone today. Using water cannon and plastic bullets and batons on kids is only going to cause uproar, despite everyone wanting an end to this. Seems like the police have been treading on eggshells for fear of hurting kids. Fucked if they do, fucked if they don't

Maybe we need....

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Maybe we need....

I already suggested using these and lobbing them into the nearest River to dampen their looting enthusiasm

 

[Chilavert]

How fucking depressing to see all the shops closed and the police on the street. On the plus side the Elm Park Tavern is still open. Also does anyone want to drop a 4 pack of Sagres round to Leander Road?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

How fucking depressing to see all the shops closed and the police on the street. On the plus side the Elm Park Tavern is still open. Also does anyone want to drop a 4 pack of Sacred round to Leander Road?

What about the shops? They closed in the '85 riots