Don't want to get too off topic, but.. I went to Camberwell Magistrates Court this afternoon. Following all the fuss about 24hr sittings etc was expecting loads of looters to be up before the beak. I got there about 3.30pm and there were only two cases pending. I haven't been in that court before, but was surprised to find that in Court 1 the defendant has to sit in a glass box, and the "public gallery" is a sauna style enclosure with glass slats. There is a speaker system to relay the sound of the proceedings for the public, but it was turned off (or simply not working). Justice can be seen to be done - seen and not heard so to speak.
The judge looked a bit like former President Mubarrak, although he spoke more like Tariq Ali (as far as I could hear) , although on this occasion it was the public in the cage.
First up was a confused working class white woman of about 30 charged with looting one pair of ladies shoes (or so she gestured to her two supporters in the gallery). She was remanded in custody for a few more days for reports - "as there was a child involved" (one assumes she was a mother).
Second up and last for the day was a small African looking guy, anything between 25-35. He looked very innocent and demure, especially when the SERCO security guards kept flexing their rubber gloves at him. (Do all prisoners these days have AIDS/HIV or Hepatits? Or is it the SERCO staff that are infected?) Anyway Mr A denied any violence towards the police - completely contradicting police evidence. The judge sorted this out very elegantly - her refused bail on the grounds that the defendant's address could not be verified as genuine. Mr A became very agitated at this and was ranting on at the staff for a minute or two after the Judge had adjourned, risen and left the chamber.
On leaving the court I complained to the staff that it was almost impossible to hear the proceedings - they suggested I contact the building manager. They also confirmed they would not be open on Sunday, so obviously the Sky News/BBC News competitive hysteria has not reached Camberwell yet!
commentator on social issues and young people Kate Birbalsingh (see Free School thread) take on youth and riots
