Looters will never be read the riot act

While horrified at the events of the past week people simply do not believe government ministers or the police when they say ‘the criminals who burned down shops, looted their contents and generally engaged in thuggish behaviour will be brought to justice’. The reality is quite different.

Already a plethora of ‘social experts’ have been paraded on the television citing the lifestyle difficulties faced by people, especially the youth element, who took part in the acts of civil disorder.

Politicians have chosen to take the line that future austerity measures are to blame; ignoring the fact that no one was stealing food, only fancy watches, electrical goods and high end designer clothing.

The police lost control of the streets and stood by as looters ‘helped themselves’ – buildings were set alight, families made homeless and businesses blighted for years to come.

If and when a token number of ‘protestors’ – for this how they were constantly referred to by the BBC – are ever brought before the courts, I doubt they will be inconvenienced by a lengthy term of imprisonment or held to financial account for the damage they caused.

I suspect that clever lawyers will argue on their behalf that they simply got caught up in the ‘heat of the moment’ and that they were themselves victims of the economic downturn, seeking only to have their voice heard.

The worst part of this scenario is that some people will accept such claims as holy writ and give the miscreants a slap on the wrist, a puny as opposed to punitive fine and send them on their way with a call to not be naughty again.

In 12 months’ time London hosts the Olympics – on the showing of the past week; if there is any public disorder of one thing we can all be sure, the Metropolitan police will not be picking up a gold medal.

Des Morgan Caraway Drive Swindon

Bank on PM

David Cameron, the Prime Minister, is apparently quite irate. Don’t laugh. Wouldn’t you be? He’s been recalled from his third holiday abroad this year (at some Italian villa) to deal with the current crises.

Now he’s ranting on about “evil”; “anti-social behaviour”; “what they took from the public will be returned”; “not only wrecking the lives of the communities but their own”; “justice will prevail – you will not get away with it”, and “I vow to do everything possible to deal with it”.

I thought at first it was to do with the rioters; no, I got it wrong. It’s to do with the bankers.

J Adams Bloomsbury Swindon

It’s a backlash

I would like to express my views on the recent uprisings that have been taking place around England. I think that these riots have been a long time coming, because many people have lost their jobs or are in some form of employment that offers very little in the way of rewards or long term security and in many other cases have had wage cuts or no wage rises in many years (I for one).

There have also been swingeing cutbacks by numerous administrations over the years whose MPs have been less than honest. We have had the bankers (the top directors and bosses) leading our country, Europe and the world into massive debt which has led us into even greater dire straits in the way of the credit crunch and then awarding themselves with obscene amounts of money in the way of bonuses on top of their already over inflated salaries. This while telling us that they have paid their price for this world depression and for us to stop whingeing about it while we have to burden their losses with higher taxes, poorer services and unemployment.

However, people and their families, especially the poorer and less well educated, feel that they have been let down by these people in charge like the police, bankers and politicians, as they have not listened.

In the majority of cases they have blatantly ignored the signs and calls for help as we are now seeing in the backlash that’s hitting the streets of our major towns and cities in the way of riots.

The very people who we should look upon as good examples and respectful in society are even worse than the very people who they condemn as criminals and thugs.

I‘m afraid that if Cameron, Clegg, Miliband, the police or the bankers want people to act as respectful and responsible citizens, then they should do their jobs properly first by stopping all their lies and deceit. Otherwise people will continue to take to the streets and vote in the only way they know how to get their voices heard, because they are now sick to their stomachs with all these cut backs, lies and hypocrisy.

A King Park Lane Swindon

Bitter harvest

Like everybody else, I am deeply saddened by the riots in London and elsewhere.

Could these terrible events be the tragic consequence of the past 40 years of ‘social engineering’ where we, as a nation have forsaken the ‘bedrock’ of our society, our Judeo-Christian heritage?

We have sown the wind, I pray that we will not reap a bitter harvest.

Steve Jack Damson Trees Shrivenham Swindon

Ability awards

The Ability Media International Awards were founded by Leonard Cheshire Disability in 2009.

They recognise and celebrate the artistic excellence of disabled people and those who highlight disability issues in a creative way.

We want nominations from members of the public who care about the arts and we are looking for nominations for this year’s People’s Choice Award. Works can be from any aspect of the arts, be it sculpture, painting, photography, literature, theatre, dance, film, television or radio. If your readers have read, seen or heard something outstanding and it was either created by disabled people or that challenges society’s perceptions of disabled people and the issues they face, please do let us know.

Through the People’s Choice Award we will celebrate a work that has had real impact.

Nominations are open until Monday, August 15 and it’s easy to put forward a work that deserves recognition at: www.amiawards.org I am sure your readers will agree that what they see, hear, watch and read can have a huge impact. Their views can help us celebrate the achievements of disabled people in the creative industries and works that challenge perceptions.

Jane Jutsum Director Leonard Cheshire Disability

Wrong track

Reference the Remember When page of the Swindon Coat of Arms design, (Adver, August 9).

The loco is not the Lord of the Isles as stated but quite a good representation of a 4-2-2, an altered 3001 Class 1894 and far better than that rubbish design on the Swindon Town football badge.

Ken Gibbs The Mall Swindon

Cruel justice

John P Hunter picks out one point of my letter to take issue with. I guess he agreed with all my comments about the monarchy. He has a rant about some of the actions that animal rights activists are accused of taking against vivisectionists and their supporters.

People who embark on a career that entails carrying out cruel and useless experiments on animals, experiments that cause extreme pain to these animals, must expect some retribution.

If you or I caused even half of this cruelty then the RSPCA would prosecute but the Home Office protects them from the law. So, some people take it on themselves to try to help the animals and they are nice people.

All the jailed leaders I have met personally, and they are really brilliant.

Philip Beaven Merton Avenue Swindon