Tottenham riot exposes police failings

THE Metropolitan police faces severe criticism for failing for control a shocking night of violence in North London, which has seen many homes and businesses destroyed by violent gangs.  Around 300 people battled police in Tottenham, which saw looters break windows and steal from businesses in the area.  A bus was also set on fire, as were two police cars, flats and shops, including a large Carpet Right department store.  Today, the carnage on the streets of Tottenham shows the full implications of last night’s rioting, which Downing Street has called “totally unacceptable.”

     Scotland Yard; still trying to defuse the severe criticism it has taken for the phone hacking scandal confirmed that 26 policeman were hurt in the trouble and 42 people have been arrested for a variety of offences.  However, many local residents will feel that the police have not covered themselves in any glory once again. 

BURNT: The remains of a police car before it was attacked last night

      The trouble began in the area on Thursday night, when a father of four, Mark Duggan was shot dead by police near Tottenham Hale tube station.  It was believed that Duggan had possession of a gun at the time.  Tension was rising in the community and yesterday, a peaceful demonstration outside Tottenham police station took place involving family and friends of Duggan.  Approximately 150 people marched in the protest.  However, as darkness fell, the disorder began, with two police cars parked not far away from the station on Forster Road set alight by angry protestors that seemed only interested in causing chaos.  The carnage spread onto the corner of Brook Street and Tottenham High Road, where the Carpet Right shop was smashed into, looted, and then set on fire.  So too was a double-decker bus.  An Aldi supermarket was also torched and burnt to the ground by the angry mob.   

     Today in Tottenham Hale Retail Park, Sky News has caught sensational footage of at least five, possibly more people looting the JD Sports shop in broad daylight, taking trainers and bags of clothing at their disposal, with remarkably, no police.  Eyewitnesses are reported to have seen laptops and televisions taken from a nearby PC World shop too.  Despite all these blunders by the Metropolitan police, Home Office secretary Theresa May continues to back the under-fire force;

    “I condemn utterly the violence in Tottenham last night.  Such disregard for public safety and property will not be tolerated and the Metropolitan Police have my full support in restoring order.”

Adrian Hanstock, a commissioner for the police said; “The death of Mark Duggan was absolutely regrettable.  A peaceful demonstration was hijacked by a small number of a criminal element that used the event for their own gain.  We kept a dignified presence at the vigil.  Our preparation was in place and the contingence we had needed to be proportionate to the levels of concern we had in the community.”

FIRE: Shops were targeted, including an Aldi supermarket

     An enquiry into last night’s trouble has already begun and it will be interesting to see what evidence is found.  Although the actions of the rioters last night can’t be condemned and the violence is utterly disgraceful – to wreck people’s homes and businesses in totally unacceptable, the failings to control the possibility of trouble, especially in such a hostile community over the past 48 hours staggers even myself.  Fingers crossed this is the last of the trouble in Tottenham, though I fear more might come.  

Eight Weeks Behind Bars For George

George Michael’s shocking decline continued on Tuesday, after he was sentenced to eight weeks in jail for crashing his Range Rover, whilst under the influence of cannabis.  Michael has also been banned from driving for five years and has been ordered to pay £1,300 for damages.  The judge at Highbury Magistrates Court told Mr. Michael that he would spend at least four weeks in prison, with the rest on a suspended license.

The latest incident in George Michael’s colourful private life happened on July 4^th, when he hit a pavement and crashed into a photography store in Hampstead, North London.  Police found him slumped at the wheel, and later tests proved that he had taken a high and dangerous doze of prescription and illegal drugs.  At the time of the incident, police were convinced that he had been high on drugs, as his pupils were dilated and there was a constant amount of abuse coming from his slurred mouth.  It isn’t the first time that he has had a brush with the law in recent years, which made a jail term all the more inevitable. 

The former Wham! Star, who became a star for his music in the 1980’s and 1990’s, was famously fined in 1998 for engaging in “a lewd public act” in a California toilet.  This both raised questions about his sexuality and his mental health.  Since then, he has had several other minor accidents, and has been cautioned for being caught possessing drugs.  It is the third time that he has been charged for a similar offense to the one that he finds himself now behind bars.

Fans of the music star turned up outside court on Tuesday afternoon and were devastated when news brokethrough of the sentence.  George Michael has since apologised for this latest act of ungrateful behaviour via a statement on his website, and his defence team at the hearing did admit that he was getting public help for his downward spiral.

For someone who had a fantastic voice, it is sad to see George Michael has fallen from grace.  Hopefully, this stint in prison will make him think about what he does in future.  He has had enough brushes with the law, this might make him think that he has learnt his lesson.   

Arsenal - Are They The Most Frustrating Side In The Premiership?

This blog was first published on February 8th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

 

It’s an interesting question which Arsenal fans probably have difficulty answering themselves, but I would have to say ‘yes,’ if I was asked this.

The Gunners have gone five seasons without silverware, since the 2005 FA Cup Final and yesterday’s 2-0 Premiership loss at title rivals and bitter adversaries, Chelsea have left Arsene Wenger’s men nine points off the top and with little hope of winning the major domestic prize. Three weeks ago, Arsenal topped the table, but why have they fallen off the pace so soon afterwards.

The simplest answer is the style of football that the North London side play. Although it is electrifying, stunning to watch, almost undoubtedly the best in the league, this style does not win you trophies. Holland’s total football approach in Euro 2008 deserved more than a quarter-final berth, but when up against it, they couldn’t produce the goods and Arsenal is the domestic example of the Dutch.

Fluent going forward is a joy to watch, but it’s no good smashing teams like Blackburn, Bolton and Hull to the cleaners, if you can’t grind out results against the ultimate title rivals. Arsenal’s record against the leading lights this season is appalling. Two defeats against Chelsea, two losses against Manchester United, a 4-2 reverse at Manchester City and dropped points at home to Everton. All very costly results and apart from a gritty second half display at Anfield, which saw them overcome an inconsistent Liverpool pre-xmas, the results against the current top six have been terrible. It seems like they can only play one style of football, so when they meet Chelsea and Manchester United, those teams will cut Arsenal to the sword with devilish counter-attacking, which Arsenal can’t do.

The lack of firepower in these games also can’t be overlooked. The devastating injury to Robin Van Persie on international duty in the autumn has been a massive loss to the striker frontline. Nikolas Bendtner has also had his injury issues this season and Eduardo does not look the same player he was before his horror leg-breaking injury at Birmingham two years ago. It leaves Wenger with limited options up top and it was very surprising he didn’t bring someone in during the recent January transfer window – even if they were cup-tied from participation in the Champions League.

What was even more curious is Wenger’s decision yesterday to play Theo Walcott, who looks a pale shadow of the star who stunned Croatia with a sublime hat-trick in Zagreb 18 months ago. Walcott has had a catalyst of injuries since then, and every time I’ve seen him, he looks like he is getting worse, not better. He is still very young, but naivety has surely cost him the chance of going to South Africa this summer. A loan move might be best to restart his career. Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia continued to look unsteady and insecure yesterday. The Spaniard is by far, the worst goalkeeper in the Premiership, and that’s something that needs to be re-addressed as soon as possible. Even if this means, giving Almunia a break to regain his shattered confidence. The form of Belgian Thomas Vermaelen and Cesc Fabregas have been key to Arsenal’s global brand of attractive football, but more underachieving begs the question to whether Fabregas would stay at the Emirates much longer. He is the new golden boy of Spanish football and Barcelona + Real Madrid would surely be interested in his services should Arsenal fail to deliver the success he desperately craves.

Finally, why did Wenger put out an under-strength side in the FA Cup tie at Stoke two weeks ago? The FA Cup was a great chance to win silverware, with Manchester United and Liverpool already eliminated. Instead, he gambled on a young side that flopped under Stoke’s physical prowess and the demanding fixture schedule of tough games. One point from three matches and a steadily improving Liverpool to come on Wednesday suggest this gamble has backfired badly.

Wednesday night is now a crunch game for Arsenal at home to Liverpool, as is the Champions League test against FC Porto in ten days time. Arsene Wenger is under no danger regarding his job, but things need to change and a reduction in excuses is required for this side of young starlets to end up with any silverware at all. Arsenal FC is a frustrating side to watch, because you don’t what you are going to get. The question is, can they change to win trophies?