Riot

Police last night were apparently warning journalists off using the word riot to describe the events in Tottenham. This is the opening definition from the 1986 Public Order Act.

Part I

New Offences
1 Riot.

1. Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.
2. It is immaterial whether or not the 12 or more use or threaten unlawful violence simultaneously.
3. The common purpose may be inferred from conduct.
4. No person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.
5. Riot may be committed in private as well as in public places.
6. A person guilty of riot is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or a fine or both.

You probably went to bed seeing two police cars and a bus on fire, plus some smaller shops - and with a memorable image of one lad pushing a loaded shopping trolley away from the High Street. Sky News this morning made it clear that two major buildings were gutted - Aldi and Carpetright - because police couldn't protect fire crews. There were some 26 flats above Carpetright (a former large Co-op store) - and residents were only evacuated after midnight. Meanwhile we've seen no pictures yet of the looting at the Tottenham Hale retail park. 

Probably safe to talk about rioting now.   If you've watched Sky News.  I know BBC News reporters and crews got roughed up, and had equipment damaged last night, but this morning's 0600-0730 offering on BBC1 was a very uncomfortable watch for people wanting to find out what happened....