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Police swell ranks to stem riots
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BBC news:
Some 16,000 police officers will be on London's streets later in a bid to prevent a fourth night of rioting.
The government's emergency committee, Cobra, met in the wake of Monday's violence, which spread across London and prompted unrest in other cities.
PM David Cameron pledged to restore order, recalling Parliament on Thursday in response to the "sickening scenes".
The Met Police, which is drafting in support from 30 other forces, says it will consider using plastic bullets.
Two 17-year-olds said they were "showing police and rich people they could do whatever they wanted".
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said use of the ammunition - never before fired to deal with riots in England - would be "considered carefully".
But he added: "That does not mean we are scared of using any tactic."
Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin had earlier ruled out calling in the Army.
However, the force has cancelled all leave and called in Special constables and community support officers to ensure five times the usual number of officers for a Tuesday will be on duty.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said a 26-year-old man found shot in a car in Croydon, amid rioting in the south London town, had died in hospital.
Mr Cameron met officers in the Met Police's Gold command in Lambeth on Tuesday afternoon, before speaking to emergency service personnel in Croydon.
He condemned the "sickening scenes of people looting, vandalising, thieving, robbing", which the Met Police said had resulted in 525 arrests and more than 100 people being charged.
Clapham resident Nick Shaw escaped unhurt from his home which was set ablaze
He told rioters: "You will feel the full force of the law. And if you are old enough to commit these crimes, you are old enough to face the punishment."
The recall of Parliament will allow MPs to "stand together in condemnation of these crimes and to stand together in determination to rebuild these communities", he said.
The prime minister returned early from his holiday in Tuscany to discuss the unrest, which first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police.
London has seen a wave of "copycat criminal activity" over the past three days, the Met Police said.
Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol are among the other cities where violence broke out.
Three people are being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was injured by a car in Wembley, north-west London, while trying to stop suspected looters
Part of London's Tramlink between has been suspended as a result of a fire
Elsewhere, 138 people have been arrested in Birmingham after scores of youths smashed windows and looted shops in the shopping area
West Midlands Police said a police station in Holyhead Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, was set alight
Up to 200 youths with masks roamed through Toxteth in Liverpool, while Bristol police said they dealt with outbreaks of disorder involving about 150 people
A Nottinghamshire police station was attacked in the St Ann's area and 200 tyres were set alight in the street
Police dealt with "small pockets of disorder" in the Chapeltown area of Leeds
Monday's violence started in Hackney, north London, at about 16:20 BST after a man was stopped and searched by police, who found nothing.
Shops have been looted across the capital
Groups of people began attacking officers, wrecking cars with wooden poles and metal bars, and looting shops. Violence then flared separately in other parts of the capital.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who also cut short a holiday to return, was heckled by the members of the public while viewing damage in Clapham Junction on Tuesday.
Some people have complained there have been too few police to deal with the violence.
Mr Johnson told those gathered that those responsible for the violence "face punishment they will bitterly, bitterly regret".
However, when challenged to do more for communities, Mr Johnson rejected "economic or social justifications" for the violence.
The Met said Monday's was "the worst" disorder in "current memory" after incidents across the capital.
Several fires broke out in Croydon, including one at a sofa factory which spread to neighbouring buildings and tram lines
Hackney MP Diane Abbott said a London-wide curfew should be considered after 200 riot officers with dogs and mounted police were needed to deal with violence there
Looters raided shops in Stratford High Street and Clapham Junction, where police used armoured vehicles to push back more than 150 people
A Sony warehouse in Enfield, a shopping centre in Woolwich New Road and a timber yard in East Ham were all on fire
Police said two officers were injured when more than 100 people looted a Tesco store in Bethnal Green, while vehicles were set alight in Lewisham and Peckham
There were reports of looting of phone shops in Woolwich High Street, in south-east London, and set a police car on fire
Shops and restaurants were damaged in Ealing, west London
Tuesday's Carling Cup matches at Charlton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bristol City have been postponed at the police's request
England and Holland's friendly at Wembley on Wednesday has also been called off
Hackney resident Catherine Holmes said: "Our community has been hurt and damaged by causeless violence. We spoke to looters trying to get home - the only explanation they gave for their behaviour was that they had no money."
'War zone'
Christian Potts, 29, described Ealing as "like a war zone".
"There were about 25 to 30 masked youths on Haven Green and they just started tearing into a florist with bricks. It's a local family-run business so I can't see why they are doing this."
Home Secretary Theresa May said the authorities could deal with the situation through robust policing, good use of intelligence and with the support of local communities.
She called on anyone involved in the violence to speak to police.
The trouble follows two nights of violence over the weekend which started after police shot a man dead in Tottenham.
A peaceful protest in Tottenham on Saturday over the death of Mark Duggan, 29, was followed by violence which spread into this week.
source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14460554
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