I can't believe nobody has started such a thread yet! Members from the riot areas, please post here to let us know you're ok. Also, anyone who has been in contact with people from these areas, please let us know who is safe and who is still missing. So far (Wednesday evening) the regions in question are: London and surroundings, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Salford, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Gloucester and Cardiff (source and map: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/met-police-flood-london-streets-quell-riots-133926735.html ) I've been in contact with Jim Gamma who is well and reports that Huntington is also ok. Grim is allright (thanks to RJD for letting me know). iBender was fine on Monday evening but I haven't heard from him since. (yes, I am perfectly aware that we shouldn't mention banned members but he lives in Croydon = right in the center of the worst riot in the London area) I tried to get into contact with ElanaM but received no reply yet. Has anyone seen her? Anyone know about Darkening? He's from an area where the riots were extremely bad. How about Hamblin? Has anyone seen him? Last thing I heard was that he works as a security person somewhere in the city. A most dangerous job atm.
Looks like Thor Damar was on this morning (US time). Not sure if he actually lives in one of those cities, though I know he's from the UK.
He's in London's outlyling Western borough, as I am, but as far as I know our part hasn't directly seen any problems. The riots (or gangs taking advantage to justify a general smash-up) were quite close (next borough over had a few the night before last) but they haven't followed the road down to our part yet, far as I know. Everyone's been avoiding the main road and the shopping/business areas just in case any group decides to come down and cause trouble, but I don't think they'd leave those areas even if they did show up.
I didn't know you were that close, DN. Stay safe. As for myself, I'm as safe as I could be in England, really. I've heard of a few rumours of riots in a couple of local towns, but out here in the rural areas, I don't think I'll get much trouble. I wouldn't like to be in one of the bigger cities right now, so good luck to everyone who is.
Well indeed. But of course some otherwise harmless (if foolish) people do like to go and see what's going on, making it worse. When they hear there's criminal damage, looting etc, you'd think everyone would clear off, but some just want to go and gawk. Plus lots of people want to stay and guard their businesses (or homes if they're unlucky enough to have homes in the trouble spots). Or buildings of note. For example, apparently a large number of the local Sikhs in the nearest troublespot gathered outside the local place of worship to discourage anyone from looting. So there are plenty of non-rioters in the riot areas too.
Of course, it's worse in August, with all the schools off. This means we have a load of teenagers with nothing to do, and any excitement they can have, they take. Not my kind of thing at all (or any sane person's) but some people will want to see what's happening.
I'm sure we'll be fine, Eyes, thanks for the kind words. But yeah, it's the inner city areas that are seeing the trouble (which I doubt surprises anyone). Keep away from the big cities and I'm sure it's quiet. While those who have lost businesses or even homes aren't going to lightly forget it, most of us are just sighing and lying low a bit until they all calm down. What a show. That's going to help the tourism the city depends on, isn't it? Luckily, I don't recall any reports of violence against people, just property. Apparently there's not much malice, just the desire to run about breaking things. Sigh. I wonder which country will be rioting next, eh?
Exactly. Groups of teens (and others) are flocking there, not necessarily to do damage but because it's exciting and, of course, because they're not thinking responsibly. The sensible thing to do is just get out of the police's way, but people keep coming to gawk. These things are like street parties, sadly. You get a core group setting it off and others are drawn like flies to dance around it.
I have heard reports of a few muggings, which is to be expected in the circumstances, given that most of the people who are doing the violence are opportunistic thugs looking for some freebies. I hope this doesn't last too long though, there are many ways it could get worse. On another note, how many of the UK members that we have actually live in the cities? I can think of quite a few who, like me, live rurally and shouldn't be having many problems. A lot of the rest I can't quite remember whether they live in any of the affected areas at all.
Well, the violence is in London and several of the core cities, last I heard. Which is where we'd expect it to be, I suppose. As you say, I hope it dies down soon. I think it's mostly "copycat" waves and the usual gangs taking advantage, I don't think there's any core political or emotional issue for most of them to rally around. The original protestor's death is said to have set off the first wave, but I think most of the current rioting is copy-cat or second hand, just the usual stupid response - someone smashed the "social contract", it's temporally suspended and now they've all got an "excuse" to grab TVs and take out their frustrations on other people's property. Until the police can arrest enough of the focal points and leaders and everyone else melts back into normalcy.
Had three not too bright youth looters planning a raid on our doorstep - called the police. I could hardly believe my ears. That's my act for the city for this week. It'll take more than a few teenage looters to unnerve me, you won't find me packing a weekend bag to get out, I can get my baseball bat out just as quick as the next kid. Hey, there's a plus side to everything, loved seeing the hoards of jump-suited and geared young officers in the city centre today - and they were all in such high spirits, chit-chatting away with the public. There was an almost carnival atmosphere in the air, oddly enough. Shopkeepers and locals appeared livelier than usual, too - nothing like a bit of potential danger to heighten the senses and bring out the warmth and sense of community in people.
^ Hey! *Waves* Some of the more interesting footage isn't making it on to the news - I can see why they wouldn't want to advertise this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-4MYZgbErI&feature=related
I heard regular cops in the UK don't carry guns for some stupid reason. Only a few are actually trained to use firearms.
while all this info is really interesting, it's rather a bit off-topic. Could you please start your own thread for discussing the general situation? (Perhaps a Mod or Admin could be so nice to split the thread?) I meant this thread to [solely[] be a place where people can tell their friends about who is safe and who is still missing (see initial post). Kinda like the wall postings after WW2 where people left messages to their friends, relatives and neighbours.
^^ There doesn't seem to be much information available yet. I'm sure people will post more as the info comes in or as they find the thread. And to take videos to post on their YouTube page. Good work, citizen.