BRITISH PRIME MINISTER David Cameron has told rioters that police are allowed to make whatever decisions necessary to prevent disorder.
Speaking to the press this morning, Cameron said that there was evidence that a more robust approach to policing resulted in a much quieter night in London.
There have been 750 arrests in London since Saturday and 160 people charged in connection with the riots.
A major police operation is underway to arrest criminals picked up on CCTV.
“Picture by picture these criminals are being identified,” said Cameron.
We will not let any any phoney concerns about human rights get in the way [of] the publishing of pictures.
He also said that he “would expect anyone convicted of violent disorder will be sent to prison”.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to those who helped clean up after the riots, saying:
We needed a fightback and a fightback is underway. We have seen the worst of Britain but I also think we have seen the best of Britain.
However Cameron cautioned that there “is no room for complacency” as there is “much more to be done”.
Referring to the “thuggery in new cities” overnight, he said “this continued violence is simply not acceptable and it will be stopped”.
We will not put up with this in our country; we will not allow a culture of fear exist in our streets.
Police now have the legal backing to employ whatever tactics they need to, they are authorised to use baton rounds and a contingency plan has been put in place for a water cannon to be available with 24 hours notice.
Cameron also focused on the “big problen with gangs” in the UK, and said there are “pockets in our country that are not just broken but sick”.
He said the images of people being robbed and shops being looted show it is “clear there are things badly wrong in our society”.
He blamed the root cause on “complete lack of respect in parts of our society” where people feel the world owes them something and their actions do not have consequences.
The PM told the press that he doesn’t want London “to be in a permanent lockdown or shutdown” and that “there are major lessons to learn about how we make sure we are really well prepared for events like this both now and in the future”.
Meanwhile, detectives in Birmingham will question a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder after three men – aged 31, 30 and 20 – were hit by a car while walking on Dudley Road in the Winson Green area of the city.
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