UK police and courts under fire for handling of riots

In Britain there have been more arrests and more deaths following the mob riots in London and other cities.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a pensioner.

And a teenager was arrested over a text message she'd allegedly sent inciting others to riot.

The latest developments come as police defend their role in dealing with the riots.

And the courts too are now under fire for handing down sentences which some say are too harsh; others see as too soft.


ANNE BARKER: In the days since the mob violence spiralled out of control, British police, almost as much as the rioters, have come in for a pasting.

DAVID CAMERON: Initially the police treated the situation too much as a public order issue rather than essentially one of crime.

ANNE BARKER: The Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament on Thursday that police chiefs had admitted to tactical mistakes that allowed the riots to spread and that it was only when he and other government leaders returned from leave that thousands more police went onto the streets and the violence was brought under control.

The criticisms were put to the Government's Committee on Civil Emergencies, after which police from the very top down to the rank and file were forced to defend their role.

Some officers described unacceptable working conditions that left them powerless against the mobs, including one station which ran out of handcuffs.

POLICEWOMAN: We were having missiles thrown at us, in reality I was wearing what I'm wearing today, so my protection was the hat that I've got on and the Mc Vest.

POLICEMAN: The moment that the cavalry arrived and more officers coming in with more kits and the larger shields, of course there was a sense of relief.

ANNE BARKER: Others, like John Graham from the Police Foundation say the politicians have got it wrong.

JOHN GRAHAM: I don't believe actually that they can or should take the credit for the way in which the police, albeit later than most people would have preferred, the extent to which the police did eventually gain control of the streets in London.

ANNE BARKER: Now, as hundreds of suspects are hauled into court, the justice system too has come under fire.

Magistrates face intense public pressure to come down hard on convicted looters, which has seen jail terms handed to some youngsters who may have done nothing more than steal a couple of tee-shirts or in one case, six months gaol for a man who stole a few bottles of water.

Others, like Derrick Campbell, a former adviser to the government on gang related crime say the courts aren't going in hard enough.

DERRICK CAMPBELL: There has been a high level of disgust and frustration at some of the mealy-mouthed sentences that we've seen dished out. It's just not acceptable and people are still very angry. We've seen individuals getting a day; three weeks; two days.

ANNE BARKER: Already around 800 people have appeared in court charged over the riots.

But with nearly double that number arrested and many referred to higher courts, it could be months yet before they're dealt with.