UK Riots Aftermath and Repercussions

A month after the riots that shook Britain and shocked the world the desperate search for answers, cause and effect continues. British Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has made one suggestion after revealing that 75% of those aged 18 and over arrested during the riots had prior convictions.

The conclusion he reaches? There means the problem must be with the penal system, because if all the rioters, looters and violent thugs had already been behind the riots may never have happened.

Writing in the guardian newspaper Clarke wrote, "It's not yet been widely recognised, but the hardcore of the rioters were in fact known criminals. Close to three quarters of those aged 18 or over charged with riot offences already had a prior conviction. That is the legacy of a broken penal system – one whose record in preventing reoffending has been straightforwardly dreadful.”

'In my view, the riots can be seen in part as an outburst of outrageous behavior by the criminal classes - individuals and families familiar with the justice system, who haven't been changed by their past punishments.''

The justice secretary has received support from London Mayor Boris Johnson who told a parliamentary inquiry into the riots, "What was the key factor that was going to make you more likely to riot? It was previous contact with the police, and that you had a criminal record, if you look at the overwhelming preponderance of people involved in the riots it was those members of society and that is the problem that we need to tackle."

Clarke’s views on the riots join and ever growing list of theories on what sparked the riots. So far some of the theories have included poverty, poor educational attainment, parenting, social media, simple criminality etc.

Following the riots and their aftermath from afar I find some of the language disturbing. It seems that the reasons for the riots are being framed in an us and them mentality. A patronizing tone has been struck, with the riots being caused by a “criminal underclass” or “feral underclass” talking about the appalling crimes that were committed being carried out by some “other” society.

Surely all the conclusions that are to be drawn must seen in the context of British society as a whole, the Britain that rioters inhabit is the same Britain that the politicians, shopkeepers, police, judges, teachers and other civic leaders inhabit.

One of the most insightful pieces I’ve read so far on the riots has come from guardian columnist Charlie Brooker who wrote soon after, “Aside from the sheer mindless ferocity and violence, one of the most depressing aspects of the protracted smashup was the nature of the looting: time and again, shops selling trainers or gadgets were targeted first. Fancy shoes and electric widgets mark the peak of ambition. Every looter was effectively a child chanting: "Give me my toys, I want more toys.”

Surely the causes of the civil unrest are far deeper than the failure of the penal system to rehabilitate first time offenders. The seeming preoccupation with “bling” culture and status symbols such as trainers and infinity inch plasma tv screens doesn’t indicate to me a culture of have and have nots its more like a culture of have some and want more. If there is a system that is to be looked at then it has to be the education system. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage that so many experience even in the wealthiest of nations.

The UK is well known for it class system and would seem that the early response to the riots may indeed widen the gap in understanding between both sides of the social chasm.