As the wave of rioting and looting swept through London earlier this month it was
disturbing to see how the actions of a minority could engender fear and disorder on such a grand scale.
As the dust settles and the reality of this episode fades away, there is a simple fact that is at risk of being buried under the heap of condemnation of criminals and praise for the police – namely, that such a relatively small number (just over 2,000 were arrested in London out of a population of 8 million) of people deployed themselves so effectively as to bring London to its knees.
Yet thankfully effective deployment is not the exclusive preserve of rioters and when the police effectively deploy their most valuable assets – police officers – the effect on crime and disorder is equally devastating.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in