These are some of my reflections from the last week. The recent London riots indicate a deep and complex problem in society which will not go away by throwing away a few “criminals” in jail.
Vigilantism
As the events unfolded, I was asking why we were not doing more than watching, as though we were spectators watching an American film or “live coverage” of sport.
However, stories came in of people who protected their properties, particularly the faith communities. But I didn’t like the way in which the BBC phrased the act of protecting properties as “vigilantism”, asking the public whether it was right to take the law into one’s own hands. These riots were unprecedented, and as the police proved themselves incompetent, communities bandying together was inevitable and a natural, raw, human response.
As long as there was intention on the part of the Turkish shop owners, Sikh and Muslim communities to use reasonable force, and not to attack the rioters, why use such a robust word as “vigilantism”? Sikhs and Muslims weren’t going to stand back and have their places of worship desecrated.
Social malaise
While these young people are brandished as criminals, let us make no mistake that they are a part of our society, and so from the whole of society a solution must come. To explain their conduct is not to justify.
The looters were both criminals and victims. Paradox this may be, but rigid dichotomies and analyses simply will not do. What they did was wrong and shameful, but these acts manifest a deep social malaise and anger of a young generation who perceive no future ahead of them. Why did they burn and loot their very own communities? Their acts are akin to self-harm, where an individual intentionally wounds him or herself in order to gain attention from others, and to feel something real and palpable.
There will countless debates and soul-searching for months and years. We must make sure that real people from the community: young people, youth workers, teachers, parents and others – even the rioters themselves, are genuinely involved in responding to this crisis and coming up with answers. Our elite, career-politicians are deeply out of touch and can only come up with empty sound bites which cater for an emotional, grossly ineffectual response.
Police inadequacy
I am amazed that the police were so ineffectual. How many times have we heard of people being kettled in at demonstrations? Yet the police waited for the politicians to make decisions who lazily meandered their way back to the UK.
Every catastrophe has a sliver of hope. For me, these riots particularly manifest the deep rage of young black men who are stopped and searched every day. I think there is a prevalent agenda which says race is not an issue, but those who spout that agenda were in a for a rude awakening.
The police thought they could ignore the family of Mark Duggan, and their foolishness bit them in the bum. Five years ago, I saw the highly compelling film Injustice, which is about the death of black people in police custody, none of which has resulted in a police conviction. Nothing’s changed. The rioting is a further example that our police system is due for a major, urgent overhaul.
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Lately, I’ve been feeling quite apathetic …These riots have woken me up from my ennui that we have no choice but to care about and be involved in the lives of young people.
