London was was left to rot for years (particularly whilst thatcho and major were bickering over the GLC and abolishing it) – and its community of “real Londoners” (i.e working class people) was destroyed in the name of profit society is now reaping what they sowed
I’ve followed a lot of the crime reports and when the courts can actually prove premeditated murder the minimum tarrifs for gang members are very high indeed (seen 20-30 year minimum term sentences recently)
The first part of the stretch is often Feltham (highest suicide rate for YOIs)
second part (when the youth turns 21) is Wormwood Scrubs or Belmarsh
these terms have been increased loads since Blair came to power
Something is actually being done on the streets of London – its slowly but surely getting locked down and the authorities taking back control. All those cops brought in since 9/11 didn’t just evaporate into thin air as the “muslim threat” dimninishes (most of them been caught already) and more and more people who have “had enough” are even joining up as hobby bobbies!
they can put 100 cops in within seconds to stop a warehouse party, 3000 as a normal weekend patrol and 10 000 officers to police Notting Hill carnival..
Boothy went to London for (presumably) the first time as a teenager and immediately noticed a ton of metpol “serials” (riot vans) just patrolling the streets. we saw the video of 600 cops closing off a street to deal with some dodgy algerian shops selling goods what were robbed off people
And even if the courts don’t always get everybody someone else takes matters into their own hands in London, either gangs or crews avenging the death of their mates or the older people execute somebody for acting like scum (this is why people who live in the capital are more supportive of vigilanté action than many realise)
“normal” youths are getting guns and knives these days just to protect themselves.. even people my age are keeping a shooter or weapon “for insurance” or as a last resort (even if you are shot you can still kill your attacker)
The wider problem is some of these gang members don’t fear prison or even death, they have given up on life already. We are seeing the same mentality as in Al-quaeda but not just in disaffected Muslims, in normal “street youth” (I’ve even heard rudeboys chatting lyrics bigging up al-quada!)
Unchecked, I expect it will probably go as far as a 1980s style riot but along gang lines and perhaps with a few more gunshots on the part of both rioters and cops.
Then Londonistan will be locked down proper and you can kiss goodbye to its vibrant nightlife and social life (whereever the trouble happens) for a few months at least..
