ABC Aug 10 Update London Riots: Not true officers were initially told to hang back

By KEVIN DOLAK and JEFFREY KOFMAN
Aug. 10, 2011

In London, Scotland Yard has gone on the offensive in the streets, adding an additional 10,000 officers who have created an eerie calm as night fell on the capital that has apparently stifled the rioting.

Officers continued to arrest those involved in disorder both on the street and as a result of detective work, according to a statement from Scotland Yard, which rejected claims that officers were initially instructed not to make arrests.

"It is simply wrong to suggest officers were initially told not to actively arrest those involved in disorder," the statement read. "As always the decision to make an arrest is down to the individual officer on the ground who must weigh up whether it is appropriate bearing in mind risks of further inflaming the crowd, wider operational requirements and our ability to gather evidence to arrest later."

The rioting and looting gripping England has turned deadly as it enters a fifth day with three men killed by a hit-and-run driver in Birmingham.

Reports from neighbors indicate that the men were attempting to protect their area from rioters when they were struck by the car.

"Three men -- aged 31, 30 and 20 -- were on foot in Dudley Road in the Winson Green area of the city when they were in collision with a car. All later died from their injuries in hospital," read a statement of the West Midlands website. "Detectives … will today question a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder."

In London, Scotland Yard has gone on the offensive in the streets, adding an additional 10,000 officers who have created an eerie calm as night fell on the capital that has apparently stifled the rioting.

Officers continued to arrest those involved in disorder both on the street and as a result of detective work, according to a statement from Scotland Yard, which rejected claims that officers were initially instructed not to make arrests.

"It is simply wrong to suggest officers were initially told not to actively arrest those involved in disorder," the statement read. "As always the decision to make an arrest is down to the individual officer on the ground who must weigh up whether it is appropriate bearing in mind risks of further inflaming the crowd, wider operational requirements and our ability to gather evidence to arrest later."

Today on the BBC radio program "Today" Johnson took the opportunity to cricize the slashing of police budgets.

"If you ask me whether I think there is a case for cutting police budgets… in the light of these events, then my answer to that would be a 'no'," he said. "I think that this is not a time to think about making substantial cuts in police numbers and I'm looking at the country as a whole."

The U.S. Embassy has issued a statement warning Americans about London violence and has reminded them of common sense practices including avoiding civil unrest and not engaging with those causing disturbance.

The violence that began in London on Saturday has spread across England, with Manchester and Nottingham reportedly being hit harshly by rioters, with roving gangs of young people set buildings and cars on fire and looted stores and terrorizing the public. A gang of rioters firebombed a police station in Nottingham on Tuesday.

"Canning Circus Police Station fire bombed by a group of 30-40 males," Nottingham, England, police said via Twitter. "No reports of injuries at this stage. A number of men arrested. Fire service at scene."

In another tweet, officials added, "Fire at Canning Circus Police Station is extinguished, scene being preserved for forensic evidence. At least 8 arrested."

A total of 90 people have reportedly been arrested in Nottingham so far.

In Manchester hundreds of youths tore through the city, terrorizing police and vandalizing stores. A women's clothing store on the city's main shopping street was set ablaze, along with an unused library in nearby Salford, according to the Associated Press.

"Greater Manchester police officers have been faced with extraordinary levels of violence from groups of people intent on shameful criminality," Garry Shewan, Assistant Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police.

"We want to make it absolutely clear -- they have nothing to protest against," he told the Associated Press. "There is nothing in a sense of injustice and there has been no spark that has led to this," he added.

Sales of aluminum baseball bat sales on amazon.co.uk have shot up 50,000 percent since the riots began.

The wave of rioting now entering its fourth day was sparked by the shooting death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan in the Tottenham section of North London last Thursday. Police have said the man shot at them first. Angry protesters demonstrated against the fatal shooting in the multi-ethnic neighborhood Saturday, and the march soon degenerated into chaos.