It is hardly subsidised. The councils ended that years ago. They simply put in only what they get in rents. Which explains the sorry state of many estates.

It did strike me: on one side the hooded and face covered with a scarf rioter, on the other side helmet clad and face covered with a balaclava Police officer.

Just an observation.

And which group was it committing arson, burglary and looting ?

Just another observation.

The majority of the Police I saw weren't wearing balaclava, only riot helmets with face shields. Mostly I suspect that's because a helmet will protect their skulls from the bricks and poles being hurled at them by the rioters while in the course of doing their duty to protect the public majority from the lawless few. The rioters weren't at much risk from having large and heavy objects chucked at their heads by the Police, which is where the difference lies IMO.

The rioters faces were covered because they knew what they were doing was wrong and they wanted to hide from the possibility of being identified and punished. Not so in the case of the Police I think!

Well that does not explain why the police hide their faces during crowd control?

I've never seen a policeman wearing just a balaclava. The only time I've seen a policeman's face hidden is when it's been inside protective clothing of some sort. That includes riot gear, which is designed to protect from being hit by a petrol bomb, at least for long enough for someone else to put the fire out. I doubt anyone would thank you for protective clothing that still allowed your face to be burned. You simply can't compare the two. There were issues at the G-20 protests with a few policeman deliberately not wearing their ID numbers (which they are required to in some form or other) but I've never heard of a policeman in public deliberately trying to conceal their identity other than that.

Jon

Twas just an observation.

Well behind a full face mask why do they need a balaclava. It is not as if they are pit crew dealing with refuelling at speed. As for any officer deliberately hiding their identity they need to be sacked for such actions. Zero tolerance cuts both ways.

Perhaps they are fireproof balaclava's to protect from thrown petrol bombs ?

I guess they might offer similar protection to pit crews... though of course, pit crews wouldn't be subjected to rocks or other missiles being thrown at them.

Yes but full face masks would protect a lot better than a balaclava. I can understand then carrying them as a precaution, to be used if petrol bombs were used. Though have the police actually come under fire from Molotov cocktails during a raid which is when I have seen the police wearing them on TV? People do not use petrol bombs to keep the police out.

I saw tv footage of police facing crowds and coming under fire. I can't say I saw petrol bombs being thrown but I did see fireworks being launched almost horizontically at them. I don't think I'd like either.

I agree, though the masks that they have would protect the faces. The police could charge those using fireworks as weapons with serious offences. No need for new laws and powers.

I'm sorry but when did anyone give a sh!t about what the rioters think?

I really couldn't give a toss if it was a d!ckhead in a hoody or a d!ckhead in a suit. They're all still d!ckheads ruining lives and robbing shops.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.851201,-1.530896

I agree. Though I am thinking of more general occasions such as a protest.