Rise of the Planet of the Apes - A Take on the Riots in the UK

A bus is burnt in Tottenham, Saturday night

As many people know, I am an overly opinionated individual when it comes to politics. I believe in a world where man earns his place in the world by working for it, not being handed it on a plate nor held back by a restrictive social contract. The recent events in London and across the UK have left me more opinionated and ranty than ever!

Watching the events unfold, from the early riots in Tottenham to the gradual spread across London, is heart-breaking. What started out as a peaceful protest soon became one of the most horrific riots in this country in living memory, erupting into an almost war-like situation spanning several cities. I find it almost impossible to think about anything else at the moment – to me presently nothing else is quite as important as these monumental and indubitably paradigm-shifting events.

No less than 25 families lost their homes during the Tottenham riot, and countless more on the ensuing two nights that saw London blaze. These people now have nowhere to go, no possessions except the clothes on their backs, and what did they do to deserve that? Nothing. Innumerable businesses have been looted, ransacked, and torched, some local and others more mainstream. This will leave hundreds, if not thousands, jobless and others with their businesses they've struggled to build vanishing in front of their eyes. All of this on top of the pre-existing homeless and employment problems. It's thoughts of things like this that deeply sadden me.

Stand-Off: Riot police and rioters in Hackney

Monday night proved to be the worst by far (to date), with the riots all over the capital and starting up in other cities. A man in Hackney suffered a seizure after the bus he was on was assaulted by rioters shortly after 5pm. Numerous vehicles had been set upon by armed criminals, countless passers-by seriously injured just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and riot police desperately trying to control the situation. One question hung in the air: Why?

Some believed it was related to the shooting of a young man in Tottenham by police, others that it was a gang or race war, and some that it was a political statement. Even some of those involved with the looting and rioting cited it being down to wanting change, equal opportunities and a statement against the government (some less eloquent than others, as these exemplars for society display!). However, none of it feels that politically motivated. The student protests of last year, when it turned from protest to riot, at least still held true to their agenda, but these riots are seemingly just active anarchists who have seized their moment of opportunity to loot and burn. I wouldn't say that is a conclusive analysis of the rioters, but it certainly fits a large majority of them.

I believe that if there is a socio-political message in these riots, it's held by only a small faction of the people. It's one of the problems with democracy – it's utilitarian in nature, catering to the needs of the majority. I am all for democracy, don't get me wrong, but it will always leave a minority who often feel ignored. In these times of austerity, it's the youth who feel ignored, as many feel abandoned, University a distant and unaffordable fantasy, and their futures bleak with unemployment rife and the housing market through the roof. That being so, this in no way excuses the behaviour. If any of the rioters do have a political agenda for change and equal opportunities, it's been sadly drowned out by the overwhelming numbers of those who are there for the sheer wanton criminality and destruction.

With sights such as those in London (especially Croydon's fire) on Monday evening, the display of reckless abandon, the lack of respect for other people's well being, and the opportunistic greed and looting seems to me utterly devoid of rational argument. For as long as these rioters display a lack of respect for society, society should have no respect for the rioters. Those who want to get a point across will now be treated like delinquents based purely on the actions of the mob majority – even in the minority, there are minorities who become misrepresented. The cries of “equal opportunities for all” will not echo as loudly in the ears of the public and politicians as the shouts of “terror and havoc and free stuff”. The overwhelming message from these people is simply “we can get away with it and don't care.”

A woman jumps from her flat's window,
moments before it is engulfed in flames

The sight of a wounded boy being helped to his feet after a mobbing is heart-warming, only to be utterly disgraced when the people helping are only doing so so that they can mug him. The image of a local business being looted and set on fire, the flats above them containing residents, families, now having to flee as their homes are destroyed in the blaze. These are not the sights of political revolution, these pictures portray anarchy.

Every one is entitled to his or her opinion, and to live as they please. That's a fundamental belief of mine. If these riots have a political agenda, good – go forth and change the world for the better! But I will not stand by and grant excuses of the 'disillusioned youth' or the down-trodden to justify these riots. These events have not made political impact. If anything, they have further demonised the very culture some purport to be trying to vindicate, and put the livelihoods and well being of innocent citizens at risk. These riots have left hundreds homeless, jobless, and without safety or comfort.

By all means, stand up for your rights and your political views, but under no circumstances should you endanger another being. And now, coming up to the fifth day of national riots, where are we? Last night, London was quiet whilst Manchester and Birmingham picked up where the capital left off. Total arrests since this all began are approaching one thousand, and about four people have been murdered, many more injured.

As much as I want to see this brought to an end, I don't believe that the events in London are over. After Monday night, would these peoples really just go “well, enough's enough” and that be it?! Perhaps they heard about the increased police force on the streets, or maybe they're trying to be unpredictable so they can catch London off guard. Either way, I suspect this is only a fleeting relief, and wouldn't be surprised if we saw more riots in the capital in the coming weeks.

Within the past 24 hours, Amazon.co.uk's sales of metal shovels up by 129,000%, aluminium baseball bats by 52,000%, and at least 5,000% on numerous other brands of bat as well as police batons. These numbers are enormous, and can be no coincidence. I can only hope that this is the result of a server error, and not genuine bat-sales. If not, London's streets may be empty whilst the rioters wait patiently for their parcels...

But finally, I would like to end on an optimistic note. After these horrific occurences which devastated homes and businesses alike, members of the community have banded together to aid in cleaning up the aftermath of the riots. For more information on how you can get involved in the Riot Clean-Up, please visit www.riotcleanup.co.uk.

The scene in Clapham Junction, Tuesday Afternoon