2011 England riots#Deaths and injuries

{{main|Killing of Mark Duggan}}

File:Ferry Lane, Tottenham Hale - geograph.org.uk - 1767129.jpg

On 4 August 2011, a police officer shot dead 29-year-old Mark Duggan during an intelligence-led, targeted vehicle stop procedure on the Ferry Lane bridge next to Tottenham Hale station.{{Cite news|title=Mark Duggan shooting: Bullets results 'within 24 hours'|work=BBC News|date=8 August 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14443311|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082918/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14443311|archive-date=26 February 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna44091979|title=Soul searching lies ahead as UK riots cool|date=10 August 2011|work=NBC News|access-date=22 May 2022}} The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC, now replaced by the Independent Office for Police Conduct) said that the planned arrest was part of Operation Trident, which at that time investigated gun crime in the Black community. The incident had been referred to the IPCC,{{cite news|title=Man dead and police officer hurt in Tottenham shooting|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14412752|work=BBC News|date=5 August 2011|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805062329/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14412752|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=live}} which was standard practice if death or serious injury follows police contact.{{cite web|title=What does the IPCC do? |url=http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/en/Pages/what_do.aspx |publisher=Independent Police Complaints Commission |access-date=22 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004144951/http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/en/Pages/what_do.aspx |archive-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Following the shooting, the media widely reported that a bullet was found embedded in a police radio, implying that Duggan fired on the police. Friends and relatives of Duggan said that he was unarmed. The police later revealed that initial ballistics tests on the bullet recovered from the police radio indicate that it was a "very distinct" police issue hollow-point bullet.{{cite news|title=Doubts emerge over Duggan shooting as London burns|first1=Sandra|last1=Laville|first2=Paul|last2=Lewis|first3=Vikram |last3=Dodd|first4=Caroline|last4=Davies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/07/police-attack-london-burns|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930191543/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/07/police-attack-london-burns|archive-date=30 September 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Gabbatt|first=Adam|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riots-police-duggan-live#block-44|title=London disturbances – Sunday 7 August|work=The Guardian|date=4 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002172405/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riots-police-duggan-live#block-44|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}} The IPCC later stated that a loaded Bruni BBM blank-firing pistol, converted to fire live ammunition, was recovered from the scene.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8699857/The-street-code-of-vengeance-that-sparked-the-riots.html|title=The street code of vengeance that sparked the riots|last=Lewis|first=Jason|date=13 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=18 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818095832/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8699857/The-street-code-of-vengeance-that-sparked-the-riots.html|archive-date=18 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/no-evidence-that-mark-duggan-shot-at-police-says-ipcc-6431227.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919080804/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976974-no-evidence-that-mark-duggan-shot-at-police-says-ipcc.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2012 |title='No evidence' that Mark Duggan shot at police, says IPCC |date=10 August 2011 |work=London Evening Standard |access-date=18 August 2011 }} It was wrapped in a sock, and there was no evidence that it had been fired.{{cite news|title=The Independent Police Complaints Commission has just announced that there is no evidence|work=The Guardian|date=10 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-day-four-live-blog#block-63|url-access=registration|first1=Sam|last1=Jones|first2=Matt|last2=Wells|first3=Paul|last3=Owen|first4=Ben|last4=Quinn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129172108/https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/no-evidence-that-mark-duggan-shot-at-police-says-ipcc-6431227.html|archive-date=29 January 2022|url-status=live}}

On 13 August, the IPCC stated that Duggan did not open fire: "It seems possible that we may have verbally led journalists to [wrongly] believe that shots were exchanged." The bullet that had lodged in an officer's radio is believed to have been an overpenetration, having passed through Duggan's body.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/mark-duggan-did-not-fire-his-weapon-at-police/story-e6frg6so-1226111938756 |title=Mark Duggan did not fire his weapon at police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810030025/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/mark-duggan-did-not-fire-his-weapon-at-police/story-e6frg6so-1226111938756 |archive-date=10 August 2011 |work=The Australian |date=10 August 2011}}

At lunchtime on 6 August, a meeting was called by police between local community leaders, councillors and members of police advisory groups. In this meeting, police were warned several times that there could possibly be another riot similar to the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985 if local concerns regarding the death were not addressed.{{Cite news|title=Tottenham in flames as riot follows protest|work=Channel 4 News|access-date=16 September 2011|date=19 August 2011|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/could-the-tottenham-riots-have-been-prevented|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909072458/http://www.channel4.com/news/could-the-tottenham-riots-have-been-prevented|archive-date=9 September 2011|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Wesley |title=Tottenham police "could have stopped riots" |work=BBC News |access-date=16 September 2011 |date=25 August 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14646187 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908192257/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14646187 |archive-date=8 September 2011 |url-status=live}}

On 8 January 2014, a coroner’s jury concluded that Duggan was lawfully killed. The verdict of lawful killing was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2017.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Diane |title=Mark Duggan family lose appeal against lawful killing verdict 29 March 2017 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/29/mark-duggan-family-lose-appeal-against-lawful-killing-verdict |website=The Guardian |date=29 March 2017 |access-date=8 June 2020}}

On 6 August, a protest was held, initially peacefully, beginning at Broadwater Farm and finishing at Tottenham police station.{{Cite news |last1=Bolesworth |first1=Sarah |last2=Neild |first2=Barry |last3=Beaumont |first3=Peter |last4=Lewis |first4=Paul |last5=Laville |first5=Sandra |title=Tottenham in flames as riot follows protest |work=The Observer |location=London |access-date=7 August 2011 |date=7 August 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/06/tottenham-riots-protesters-police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930191539/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/06/tottenham-riots-protesters-police |archive-date=30 September 2013 |url-status=live}} The protest was organised by friends and relatives of Duggan to "demand justice" for the family.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14423942 |title=Tottenham police shooting: Dead man was minicab passenger |work=BBC News |date=5 August 2011 |access-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806204051/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14423942 |archive-date=6 August 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/police-patrol-tottenham-after-riots |title=Tottenham riots are a disgrace, says MP |date=7 August 2011 |work=Channel 4 News |access-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901045616/http://www.channel4.com/news/police-patrol-tottenham-after-riots |archive-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=live}} The group of some 300 people demanded that a senior local police officer come out to speak to them. When Chief Inspector Ade Adelekan arrived, he was met with boos and cries of "murderer", "Uncle Tom" and "coconut".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-riots--one-year-on-owen-jones-commences-a-series-of-special-reports-7965142.html |title=London riots – one year on: Owen Jones commences a series of special reports |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925163320/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-riots--one-year-on-owen-jones-commences-a-series-of-special-reports-7965142.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=22 May 2022 |url-status=live}} The crowd stayed in front of the police station hours longer than they originally planned because they were not satisfied with the seniority of the officers available at the time. Rumours that a 16-year-old girl had sustained injuries after attacking police with a champagne bottle began circulating on social media. To date,{{when|date=April 2025}} the girl remains unidentified and the report unconfirmed. However, the rumour alone was sufficient to further fuel tensions in the area.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/tottenham-riots-police-community |title=Tottenham riots: missteps in the dance of police and a frustrated community |first=Hugh |last=Muir |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407085727/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/tottenham-riots-police-community |archive-date=7 April 2017 |work=The Guardian |date=5 September 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2022}}

{{see also|Timeline of the 2011 England riots}}

File:Fireman in action at Tottenham riots 2011 aftermath-crop.jpg

The peaceful march on the morning of Saturday 6 August in Tottenham was followed by rioting and looting, first in Tottenham and later in Tottenham Hale Retail Park.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10321233|title=England riots: Maps and timeline|work=BBC News|access-date=17 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811192752/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10321233|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} Rioting occurred shortly after about 120 people marched from the Broadwater Farm estate to Tottenham Police Station via the High Road.{{cite news|url=http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/world-uk-news/2011/08/07/eight-officers-hurt-as-riots-erupt-116451-29192283|title=Eight officers hurt as riots erupt|newspaper=The Harrow Observer|date=7 August 2011|accessdate=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004001726/http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/world-uk-news/2011/08/07/eight-officers-hurt-as-riots-erupt-116451-29192283/ |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}

The spread of news and rumours about the previous evening's disturbances in Tottenham sparked riots during the night of Sunday 7 August in the London districts of Brixton, Enfield, Islington and Wood Green and in Oxford Circus in the centre of London.

File:Tottenham riots August 6th.jpg

In the evening of Monday 8 August, many areas of London were affected by widespread looting, arson and violence. There were significant outbreaks in parts of Battersea, Brixton, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, East Ham, Hackney, Harrow, Lewisham, Peckham, Stratford, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Woolwich, and Wood Green. A man was found shot in Croydon and died later in hospital. Another man who had been assaulted in Ealing died in hospital on Thursday 11 August.{{Cite news|date=11 August 2011|title=Ealing riot: CCTV of Richard Mannington Bowes attack suspect|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-14490407|access-date=2021-10-12}}

Similar riots were reported outside London – most notably in Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, and Bristol.{{cite news |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/look-back-bristol-riots-saw-317780 |title=A look back at the Bristol riots that saw vandalism and looting across the city six years ago |last=Ballinger |first=Alex |date=13 August 2017 |website=BristolLive |access-date=7 April 2023}} There were reports of unrest on a smaller scale in other parts of the country, including Gillingham and Derby.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/06/london-riots-ukcrime |title=Unreported riots – trouble across the country |last=Clifton |first=Helen |date=6 December 2011 |work=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2023}}

File:2011 London riots.jpg

Following a greatly increased police presence, London was quiet on Tuesday 9 August, but rioting continued in Nottingham and Birmingham (where, according to the police account, 11 shots were fired at police, including at a police helicopter, and petrol bombs thrown at officers{{cite web|url=http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/appeal.asp?ID=4190 |title=Footage released after shots fired at police in Birmingham disorder |date=20 August 2011 |publisher=West Midlands Police |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728114513/http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/appeal.asp?id=4190 |archive-date=28 July 2014 }}) and spread to Leicester, parts of the West Midlands and to parts of Greater Manchester and Merseyside in the north-west of England. On 10 August, London remained quiet while hundreds of arrests were being made by the police.

Three men were killed in Birmingham in a hit-and-run incident related to the disturbances. Looting and violence continued in two locations around Manchester and Liverpool.

File:Barclays - 2011 London Looting.jpg

The existence of social media made the 2011 riots unparalleled to any before them in terms of the speed at which issues managed to spread and at which rioters were able to mobilise and organise. Many used sites such as Facebook and Twitter to promote and advertise sites for looting and disorder. As a result, many online organisers were handed severe sentences for their roles in the violence.{{Cite journal|last=Bell|first=Brian|date=10 June 2021|title=CRIME DETERRENCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE LONDON 2011 RIOTS|url=|journal=The Economic Journal}}

Throughout the rioting, many of the rioters failed to cover their faces. Some posed for pictures with stolen goods, posting them on social networking sites.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14463452|title=UK riots: What turns people into looters?|access-date=10 August 2011|work=BBC News|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810052413/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14463452|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}

Although London employs CCTV cameras to monitor crime and large events, reports indicate that citizen footage contributed more to capturing looters in action than the police force.{{cite news|title=London and England riots: CCTV pictures of suspects are released by the police|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/8690951/London-riots-CCTV-pictures-of-suspects-are-released-by-the-Metropolitan-Police.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=9 August 2011|access-date=17 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519065116/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/8690951/London-riots-CCTV-pictures-of-suspects-are-released-by-the-Metropolitan-Police.html|archive-date=19 May 2015|url-status=live}} Beyond the CCTV, looters were filmed and photographed with their faces visible. Police forces and investigators used websites like Flickr to find galleries of the looters to help solve and prevent cases of vandalism and further damage. Facebook pages were also created to identify looters.{{cite web|last=Popkins|first=Helen|title=Citizen Cameras Capture more Looters than London Cops|url=http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/citizen-cameras-capture-more-london-looters-cops-121801|work=Blog|publisher=TechnoBlog|access-date=28 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420112134/http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/citizen-cameras-capture-more-london-looters-cops-121801 |archive-date=20 April 2012}}

File:Liverpool Riots 2011 burnt cars.jpg]]

Several interactive maps were implemented in the Google Maps website that showed satellite views of what was happening in the streets during the rioting. James Cridland, the managing director of the free media resources, created a Google Map that tracked verified locations of rioting.

Channel 4 News had similar maps that progressively tracked the damage in the streets as well.{{cite web|last=Benedetti|first=Winda|title=Interactive maps reveal satellite's view of UK riots|url=http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/interactive-maps-reveal-satellites-view-uk-riots-121583|work=Blog|publisher=TechnoBlog|access-date=27 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508151113/http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/interactive-maps-reveal-satellites-view-uk-riots-121583|archive-date=8 May 2012}} The Guardian created both a map and a dataset of events of the riots{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Simon |last2=Rogersa |first2=Simon |last3=Sedghi |first3=Ami |date=2011-08-10 |title=UK riots: every verified incident. Download the full list |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/aug/09/uk-riots-incident-listed-mapped |access-date=2024-08-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=UK RIOT LOCATIONS |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CW4aGpaZYNAY3Lr5RsBTXoLdzPOzkajjaniTU5xQeuY/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1&hl=en_US&pli=1&gid=0#gid=0 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}} News channels also were able to utilise this public service to capture live footage on the streets and inform citizens of dangerous or crowded areas.

File:Croydon Riots 2011.jpg

There were reports that the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service was used by looters to organise their activities, and that inflammatory and inaccurate accounts of Mark Duggan's killing on social media sites may have incited disturbances.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-tottenham-duggan-blog#block-61 |title=London riots – live blog |first=Paul|last=Lewis |date=8 August 2011 |work=The Guardian|access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407091111/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-tottenham-duggan-blog#block-61 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/08/london-riots-facebook-twitter-blackberry |title=London riots: how BlackBerry Messenger played a key role |first=Josh|last=Halliday |date=8 August 2011 |work=The Guardian |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105100518/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/08/london-riots-facebook-twitter-blackberry |archive-date=5 January 2017 |url-status=live }} One of the many messages shared between users was the following:

"Everyone in edmonton enfield wood green everywhere in north link up at enfield town station at 4 o clock sharp!!!!," it began. "Start leaving ur yards n linking up with your niggas. Fuck da feds, bring your ballys and your bags trollys, cars vans, hammers the lot!!"{{cite news|last1=Ball|first1=James|last2=Brown|first2=Symeon|title=Why BlackBerry Messenger was rioters' communication method of choice|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/07/bbm-rioters-communication-method-choice|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 March 2012|date=7 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211120658/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/07/bbm-rioters-communication-method-choice|archive-date=11 December 2013|url-status=live}}

File:Tottenham Riot-shops.jpg

Research in Motion assisted British police in tracking rioters who used BBM, stating, "We comply with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and co-operate fully with the Home Office and UK police forces."{{cite news|last=Garside|first=Juliette|title=UK riots: Mobile phone operators help police to identify looters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/uk-riots-mobile-phone-operators|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 March 2012|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930191558/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/uk-riots-mobile-phone-operators|archive-date=30 September 2013|url-status=live}}

Increased connectivity among individuals led to a greater ability to organise and execute massive gatherings.{{cite journal|last=Jurgenson|first=N.|title=When atoms meet bits: social media, the mobile web and augmented revolution|journal=Future Internet|year=2012|volume=4|pages=83–91|doi=10.3390/fi4010083|doi-access=free}}

Much like BBM, activity on social media shaped the London riots. During the Tottenham riots of 1985, citizens had to head into a public place to voice their message.{{cite magazine|last=Adams, Lee|first=William|title=London Riots: Organized via Twitter and Smart phones?|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2087337,00.html|magazine=Time|date=8 August 2011|access-date=29 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122353/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2087337,00.html|archive-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead}} Yet, with access to Twitter as a communication medium, social media was used to rapidly spread messages of the riots.

On Radio 4, a police official said social media was used to "organize [...] greed and criminality."{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Olivia|title=London Riots: Twitter That Caused Them?|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/08/london-riots-twitter-that_n_920791.html|publisher=The Huffington Post- Canada|date=8 August 2011|access-date=29 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422041808/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/08/london-riots-twitter-that_n_920791.html|archive-date=22 April 2012|url-status=live}} The Daily Telegraph described Twitter as being an outlet for promoting gang violence. Evidence shows that Twitter is powerful because tweets of individuals were inspired by news content.{{cite journal |first1=Emma|last1=Tonkin |first2=Heather D.|last2=Pfeiffer |first3=Greg|last3=Tourte |s2cid=17685324 |title=Twitter, information sharing and the London riots |journal=Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology |date=13 January 2012 |volume=38 |issue=2 |doi=10.1002/bult.2012.1720380212 |pages=49–57|doi-access=free }} However, an article in Time magazine suggested that BlackBerry Messenger was more to blame.

During the riots, Twitter accounted for four out of every 170 UK Internet visits on Monday 8 August. In addition, citizens also used Twitter to band together, after the destruction with hashtags including "#riotcleanup". Evidence shows that people were tweeting and re-tweeting news related to the riots, not original content.

Other than BlackBerry Messenger and social networking sites, mobile phone operators T-Mobile and Orange prioritised police requests for information about the phones that were used to plan the riots that hit British cities. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, phone companies were required to hand over data about the locations calls were made from, the owners of phones, and lists of calls made to and from a particular handset.

File:Firemen in action at Tottenham riots 2011 aftermath.ogv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425074409/http://www.apcg29.dsl.pipex.com/new%20goal%20for%20tottenham%20store.htm |archive-date=25 April 2012}} the building included a Carpetright on the ground floor and many flats on the upper storeys.]]

Trevor Ellis, a 26-year-old man from Brixton Hill was shot dead in Croydon, South London, on 8 August.{{cite news|title=A young man shot in his car|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=9 August 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-violence-looting-live#block-95|access-date=9 August 2011|first1=Richard|last1=Adams|first2=Matt|last2=Wells|first3=Sam|last3=Jones|first4=Paul|last4=Owen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930191746/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-violence-looting-live#block-95|archive-date=30 September 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/shot-man-dies-after-london-rioting-16034399.html|title=Shot man dies after London rioting|work=The Belfast Telegraph|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202021304/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/shot-man-dies-after-london-rioting-16034399.html|archive-date=2 February 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16047768|title=Croydon Murder Victim Found Shot in Car Named|date=10 August 2011|work=Sky News|access-date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124052036/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16047768 |archive-date=24 November 2011}} His family denied reports that Ellis, who had come from the Brixton area to Croydon with a group of friends, had been involved in looting.{{cite news|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/croydonnews/9189617.Suspected_looter_shot_dead_in_Croydon_named/ |title=Suspected looter shot dead in Croydon named as man from Brixton |date=11 August 2011 |work=Your Local Guardian |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017074643/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/croydonnews/9189617.Suspected_looter_shot_dead_in_Croydon_named/ |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Judd|first=Terri|title=First fatality of the riots was decorator with a baby girl|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/first-fatality-of-the-riots-was-decorator-with-a-baby-girl-2336315.html|work=The Independent|access-date=12 August 2011|date=12 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626125325/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/first-fatality-of-the-riots-was-decorator-with-a-baby-girl-2336315.html|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=live}} 13 people were arrested in connection with the murder. All were later bailed and then released without action. On 16 December, the eve of Ellis's birthday, detectives opened up a fresh appeal into the murder, asking for witnesses to come forward.{{cite news|title=Seventh Arrest in Trevor Ellis Murder|work=The Voice|location=UK|date=15 March 2012|url=http://voice-online.co.uk/article/seventh-arrest-trevor-ellis-murder?quicktabs_1=1|access-date=28 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017062128/http://voice-online.co.uk/article/seventh-arrest-trevor-ellis-murder?quicktabs_1=1|archive-date=17 October 2013|url-status=live}}

On 10 August, in Winson Green, Birmingham, three men – Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shahzad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31 – were killed in a hit-and-run incident while attempting to protect their neighbourhood from rioters and looters.{{cite news

| title = Three killed protecting property during Birmingham riots

| work = BBC News

| date = 10 August 2011

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14471405

| access-date = 20 June 2018

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180804211559/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14471405

| archive-date = 4 August 2018

| url-status = live

}}{{cite news

| last1 = Butt

| first1 = Riazat

| last2 = Wainwright

| first2 = Martin

| title = Birmingham riots: intense anger after deaths of three young men

| work = The Guardian

| location = UK

| date = 10 August 2011

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/birmingham-riots-anger-deaths

| access-date = 10 August 2010

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131222023938/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/birmingham-riots-anger-deaths

| archive-date = 22 December 2013

| url-status = live

}}{{cite news

| last = Chazan

| first = Guy

| title = U.K. Ethnic Tensions Stoked by Riots

| work = 2011-08-11

| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904006104576499631544932082

| date = 11 August 2011

| access-date = 3 August 2017

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170707182526/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904006104576499631544932082

| archive-date = 7 July 2017

| url-status = live

}} On 19 April 2012, eight men, each indicted on three counts of murder, were tried at Birmingham Crown Court before Mr Justice Flaux; the jury acquitted all of the defendants on all charges.Press Association, [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/19/eight-cleared-birmingham-riot-deaths "Eight men cleared of murder over Birmingham riot deaths"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321084942/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/19/eight-cleared-birmingham-riot-deaths |date=21 March 2017 }}, The Guardian, 19 July 2012.

File:Springbridge Mews floral tributes.jpg

A 68-year-old man, Richard Mannington Bowes, died on 11 August after he was attacked while attempting to stamp out a litter-bin fire in Ealing on the evening of 8 August.{{cite news|title=Ealing riot: Richard Mannington Bowes dies after attack|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14500869|work=BBC News|access-date=11 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812013547/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14500869|archive-date=12 August 2011|url-status=live}}

The attacker inflicted severe head injuries which resulted in a coma. The assault was caught on CCTV and reportedly filmed on mobile phones by associates of the alleged assailant.{{cite news|title=London riots CCTV shows teenager Darrell Desuze fatally attacking pensioner|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qQylxpa9mA|work=On Demand News|access-date=18 January 2023|date=13 March 2012}} The attack on Bowes was witnessed by several police officers, but due to the number of rioters they were unable to come to his aid until riot squad officers pushed back the rioters while being attacked to reach Bowes. A line of officers then held back the rioters as paramedics arrived. Bowes' wallet and phone had been stolen, and police faced difficulty in identifying him. He died of his injuries at St Mary's Hospital on 11 August 2011 after being removed from life support.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14500869 |title=Riots: Arrest over death of Richard Mannington Bowes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205241/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14500869 |date=12 August 2011 |archive-date=7 October 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 May 2022 |url-status=live}}

Many tributes were paid to Bowes, including Ealing Council, who flew the Union Flag at half-mast over its town hall and announced the launch of a relief fund in his name,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/man-arrested-murder-mannington-bowes |title=London riots: Man arrested over murder of Richard Mannington Bowes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407091126/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/man-arrested-murder-mannington-bowes |archive-date=7 April 2017 |first=Alexandra |last=Topping |work=The Guardian |date=12 August 2011 |url-status=live}} and Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who described him as a hero.{{cite web |url=http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/riots/2011/08/11/boris-pledges-millions-to-help-ealing-recover-from-riots-64767-29221450 |title=Boris pledges millions to help Ealing recover from riots |first1=Jessica |last1=Thompson |first2=Anoosh |last2=Chakelian |work=Ealing Gazette |date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007095758/http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/riots/2011/08/11/boris-pledges-millions-to-help-ealing-recover-from-riots-64767-29221450/ |archive-date=7 October 2011}}

16-year-old Darrell Desuze{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16187825 |title=August Riots: Teen Who Killed Pensioner Named |work=Sky News |date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316010611/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16187825 |archive-date=16 March 2012}} of Hounslow was charged with the murder of Bowes, violent disorder and four burglaries.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14526428|title='Witness' found over Richard Bowes death|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926173248/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14526428|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=live}} He appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on 16 August 2011, where he was remanded in custody until his appearance at the Central Criminal Court on 18 August 2011. His 31-year-old mother, Lavinia Desuze,{{cite web|url=http://www.4rfv.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=130553 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403032808/http://www.4rfv.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=130553 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2012 |title=Teenager Remanded Over Ealing Riot Murder |work=4rfv.co.uk |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 }} was charged with perverting the course of justice.{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Martin|title=Teenager charged with riot murder|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8704678/Teenager-charged-with-riot-murder.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 August 2011|location=London|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707020114/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8704678/Teenager-charged-with-riot-murder.html|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live}} On 12 March 2012 at the Inner London Crown Court, Darrel Desuze pleaded guilty to manslaughter, after previously pleading guilty to burglary and violent disorder.{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16187198 |title=Teen Admits Killing Pensioner During Riots |work=Sky News |date=12 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315003300/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16187198 |archive-date=15 March 2012}} The following day the Crown withdrew the murder charge against him.{{citation needed|reason=Metro is not a reliable source|date=May 2022}} After a trial at the Inner London Crown Court before Mr Justice Saunders and a jury, Lavinia Desuze was convicted of perverting the course of justice after she destroyed the clothing her son wore on the day of Bowes' death.{{cite web |url=http://www.westlondontoday.co.uk/wlt/content/mother-who-tore-riot-killer-sons-clothes-found-guilty |title=Mother who tore up riot killer son's clothes found guilty |work=West London Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330230641/http://www.westlondontoday.co.uk/wlt/content/mother-who-tore-riot-killer-sons-clothes-found-guilty |archive-date=30 March 2012}} On 17 April 2012, Mr Justice Saunders sentenced Darrell Desuze to detention for a term of eight years, and Lavinia Desuze to imprisonment for eighteen months.{{cite news |first=K. |last=Rawlinson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/darrell-desuze-sentenced-for-killing-pensioner-richard-manningtonbowes-during-riots-7654371.html |title=Darrell Desuze sentenced for killing pensioner Richard Mannington Bowes during riots |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925155656/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/darrell-desuze-sentenced-for-killing-pensioner-richard-manningtonbowes-during-riots-7654371.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |work=The Independent |date=17 April 2012 |url-status=live}}

File:Welcome to Hackney, 2011 riots.jpg

In London, between Monday afternoon and the early hours of Tuesday, 14 people were injured by rioters.

These included a 75-year-old woman who suffered a broken hip in Hackney.{{cite news|title=The night that rioters ruled and police lost control of the streets of London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-night-that-rioters-ruled-and-police-lost-control-of-the-streets-of-london-2335067.html|work=The Independent|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|first=Cahal|last=Milmo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111235616/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-night-that-rioters-ruled-and-police-lost-control-of-the-streets-of-london-2335067.html|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}

In Barking, East London, 20-year-old Malaysian student Ashraf Haziq was beaten and then robbed twice by looters emptying his rucksack. Footage of the second mugging, which appears to show the second set of muggers pretend to help him then proceed to ransack his rucksack, was uploaded onto YouTube. He suffered a broken jaw, requiring surgery.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14476828 "England riots: YouTube mugging victim 'recovering'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919112057/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14476828 |date=19 September 2018 }}. BBC News. Retrieved 11 August 2011.{{cite news|last=Wardrop|first=Murray|title=London riots: YouTube crime victim a Malaysian student|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8691953/London-riots-YouTube-crime-victim-a-Malaysian-student.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174844/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8691953/London-riots-YouTube-crime-victim-a-Malaysian-student.html|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} On 2 March 2012, two men, John Kafunda of Ilford and Reece Donovan of Romford, were found guilty of the robbery of Rossli and also violent disorder by a jury at Wood Green Crown Court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i2i1fQRqj-3cCbUr4Kiun11ME1fg?docId=N0865721330685087691A|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305050823/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i2i1fQRqj-3cCbUr4Kiun11ME1fg?docId=N0865721330685087691A|url-status=dead|title=The Press Association: Two convicted of student attack|archivedate=5 March 2012}} The convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal on 29 November 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-20546543|title=London riots: "Mugging" verdicts quashed|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=20 April 2015|date=29 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506132118/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-20546543|archive-date=6 May 2015|url-status=live}}

In Chingford, East London, three police officers were hit by a car used as a getaway vehicle by a group who had looted the Aristocrat store on Chingford Mount Road. Two of the officers were seriously injured and taken to hospital.{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9183747.CHINGFORD__Injured_police__were_hit_by_fleeing_looter_s_car_/|title=CHINGFORD: Injured police 'were hit by fleeing looter's car'|author=Daniel Binns|work=East London and West Essex Guardian Series|date=8 August 2011 |access-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143255/http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9183747.CHINGFORD__Injured_police__were_hit_by_fleeing_looter_s_car_/|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=live}}

In total, 186 police officers were injured as well as 3 Police Community Support Officers. Five police dogs were also reported injured.{{cite web|title=UK riots: Hundreds of arrests around the country as yobs find new targets|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/10/uk-riots-hundreds-of-arrests-around-the-country-as-yobs-find-new-targets-115875-23333702/|work=Daily Mirror|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810080505/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/10/uk-riots-hundreds-of-arrests-around-the-country-as-yobs-find-new-targets-115875-23333702/|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}

Ten firefighters were injured as the London Fire Brigade dealt with over 100 serious fires caused by the disturbances. The LFB also reported that eight of its fire appliances had their windscreens smashed and that two fire cars were attacked.{{cite web |url=http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_PR1564.asp |publisher=London Fire Brigade |title=Busiest time in recent memory for Brigade |website=London-fire.gov.uk |date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821002556/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_PR1564.asp |archive-date=21 August 2011}}

Vehicles, homes and shops were attacked and set alight. At least 100 families are thought to have been made homeless by arson and looting.[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/11/families-homeless-riots-compensated Families made homeless by riots will be compensated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407085417/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/11/families-homeless-riots-compensated |date=7 April 2017 }}, The Guardian, Thursday 11 August 2011 Shopkeepers estimated the damages in their Tottenham Hale and Tottenham branches at several million pounds.{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16045157|title='Like The Blitz': Riot Eyewitnesses React|publisher=Sky News|date=7 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124053544/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16045157 |archive-date=24 November 2011}} The riots caused the irretrievable loss of heritage architecture.{{Cite news|last=Inglis|first=Lucy|title=The destruction of Tottenham's buildings isn't just a sentimental loss|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 August 2011|date=8 August 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/08/tottenham-riots-destroyed-more-just-buildings|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919035747/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/08/tottenham-riots-destroyed-more-just-buildings|archive-date=19 September 2015|url-status=live}} It was estimated that retailers lost at least 30,000 trading hours.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8718713/UK-retailers-lost-30000-trading-hours-due-to-riots.html |title=UK retailers lost 30,000 trading hours due to riots |author=Emma Rowley |date=24 August 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=24 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825103904/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8718713/UK-retailers-lost-30000-trading-hours-due-to-riots.html |archive-date=25 August 2011 |url-status=live }}

File:Cash Converters on Salford Precinct riot damage.jpg

The Association of British Insurers said that they expected the industry to pay out in excess of £200 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2011/08/UK__Insurance_Industry_welcomes_Prime_Ministers_Compensation_Scheme_announcement_and_pledges_help_to_make_the_scheme_work_.aspx|title=UK Insurance Industry welcomes Prime Minister's Compensation Scheme announcement and pledges help to make the scheme work|publisher=Association of British Insurers|access-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301213043/http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2011/08/UK__Insurance_Industry_welcomes_Prime_Ministers_Compensation_Scheme_announcement_and_pledges_help_to_make_the_scheme_work_.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2012}} Estimated losses in London were indicated to be in the region of £100m.{{cite web|author=Alison Lock|url=http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/insurers-say-london-riot-losses-hit-100m|title=Insurers say London riot losses "well over £100m"|publisher=City A.M.|access-date=10 August 2011|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117090150/http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/insurers-say-london-riot-losses-hit-100m|archive-date=17 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

File:Reeves furniture store burnt out.jpg shop in Croydon]]

On 8 August 2011, a Sony DADC warehouse in Enfield at Enfield Lock, which also acted as the primary distribution centre for independent music distributor PIAS Entertainment Group, was destroyed by fire.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/aug/09/independent-record-labels-stock-london-riots|title=Independent record labels fear ruinous stock loss in London Riots Fire|work=The Guardian|location=UK|author=Llewellyn Smith, Caspar|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105173522/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/aug/09/independent-record-labels-stock-london-riots|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Labels react to Sony/PIAS warehouse fire|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/43478-labels-react-to-sonypias-warehouse-fire|work=Pitchfork Media|date=9 August 2011|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130002659/https://pitchfork.com/news/43478-labels-react-to-sonypias-warehouse-fire/|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}} Initially, because millions of items of stock were lost, including most of PIAS's inventory, it was thought that long-term damage to the British independent music industry might result.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14579343|title=Independent record labels detail fire recovery plans|work=BBC News|date=18 August 2011|access-date=19 August 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/bpi-establishes-fund-for-indie-labels-impacted-1005316412.story|title=BPI establishes fund for indie labels impacted by London riots|magazine=Billboard|author=Smirke, Richard|date=15 August 2011|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901023920/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/bpi-establishes-fund-for-indie-labels-impacted-1005316412.story|archive-date=1 September 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/43540-bpi-starts-fund-for-labels-hurt-by-pias-fire|title=BPI starts fund for labels hurt by PIAS fire|work=Pitchfork Media|author=Breihan, Tom|date=17 August 2011|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820093057/http://www.pitchfork.com/news/43540-bpi-starts-fund-for-labels-hurt-by-pias-fire/|archive-date=20 August 2011|url-status=live}} On 18 August 2011, PIAS confirmed that their operations were back to normal.{{Cite press release |title=[PIAS] Back in Business For Labels Affected By Fire |publisher=PIAS |date=18 August 2011 |url=http://www.pias.com/uk/ |access-date=22 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823005950/http://www.pias.com/uk/ |archive-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=live }} On 11 August 2011, London police reported that they had arrested three teenagers in connection with the warehouse fire.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/58573|title=Three teenagers arrested over Sony warehouse fire|work=NME|location=UK|date=11 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114054704/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/58573|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=live}}

The Financial Times reported that an analysis showed that 48,000 local businesses – shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs – had suffered financial losses as a result of the looting and rioting in English streets.{{cite news |title=Riots hit retail shares "at worst time" |date=12 August 2011 |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a60382c6-c1d2-11e0-bc71-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1We4WbJt5 |access-date=31 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818172816/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a60382c6-c1d2-11e0-bc71-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1We4WbJt5 |archive-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=live }}

According to BBC News, a total of 2,584 businesses were attacked and looted, 231 homes were targeted by burglars and vandals, 664 people were robbed or injured.

A 15-year-old was accused in August 2011 of raping a 13-year-old girl while the riots were taking place. The prosecution described the incident as being geographically "close" to the riots.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8700139/UK-Riots-Courts-struggle-to-cope-with-the-roll-call-of-accused.html | title=UK Riots: Courts struggle to cope with the roll-call of accused | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=19 August 2011 | access-date=2 March 2012 | author=Sawer, Patrick | author2=Lusher, Adam | author3=Leach, Ben | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401232132/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8700139/UK-Riots-Courts-struggle-to-cope-with-the-roll-call-of-accused.html | archive-date=1 April 2012 | url-status=live }}

A 20-year-old student, Ashraf Haziq, was attacked while cycling along Queen's Road in Barking. The prosecution said that the victim was punched in the face by one of a group of 100 youths. His bike, PlayStation Portable and mobile phone were stolen. In September 2011, an accusation of robbery was made against 24-year-old Reece Donovan. The same month, a 17-year-old, Beau Isagba, was accused and in February 2012 convicted of breaking the victim's jaw with an unprovoked punch.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/riot-attacker-of-malaysian-student | title=UK riots: teenager accused of punching Malaysian student appears in court | work=The Guardian | date=5 September 2011 | access-date=2 March 2012 | author=Walker, Peter | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003101440/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/riot-attacker-of-malaysian-student | archive-date=3 October 2015 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news|agency=Press Association|date=16 February 2012|title=Teenager convicted of attacking Malaysian student during London riots|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/16/malaysian-student-attack-london-riots|access-date=10 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}} In February 2012, John Kafunda and Reece Donovan were convicted of stealing from Rossli, after being identified on camera pretending to help him.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/mar/02/malaysian-student-london-riots | title=Men guilty of stealing from Malaysian student they pretended to help in riots | work=The Guardian | date=2 March 2012 | access-date=2 March 2012 | agency=Press Association | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003112247/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/mar/02/malaysian-student-london-riots | archive-date=3 October 2015 | url-status=live }} Sony offered to replace his PSP after a video of the attack attracted attention, and Namco Bandai sent him a package of games.{{cite news | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a334390/london-riots-victim-to-have-stolen-psp-replaced-by-sony/ | title=London riots victim to have stolen PSP replaced by Sony | work=Digital Spy | date=10 August 2011 | access-date=10 November 2018 | author=Reynolds, Matthew | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110123229/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a334390/london-riots-victim-to-have-stolen-psp-replaced-by-sony/ | archive-date=10 November 2018 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.vg247.com/2011/08/10/injured-boy-mugged-in-riot-to-have-psp-replaced-by-scee/ | title=Injured boy mugged in riot to have PSP replaced by SCEE | work=VG247 | date=10 August 2011 | access-date=10 November 2018 | author=Garratt, Patrick | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110120901/https://www.vg247.com/2011/08/10/injured-boy-mugged-in-riot-to-have-psp-replaced-by-scee/ | archive-date=10 November 2018 | url-status=live }}

Four London buses were set on fire during the riots (two of which were completely destroyed, one suffered serious damage but was subsequently repaired, and one suffered less serious damage and was also repaired) and other buses suffered broken windows and other minor damage.

On 9 August, Croydon's Tramlink was partly shut down due to damage inflicted along its route.{{cite news|first=Ross|last=Lydall|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976771-shock-and-anger-as-city-awakes-to-worst-scenes-since-the-blitz.do|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209083518/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976771-shock-and-anger-as-city-awakes-to-worst-scenes-since-the-blitz.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2012|title=Shock and anger as city awakes to worst scenes since the Blitz|work=London Evening Standard|date=9 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011}} Transport for London, London Overground and London Underground shut Barking, Peckham Rye and Harrow-on-the-Hill and Hackney Central stations.

The train operating company Southern later announced that trains were not stopping at many stations in south London. National Express Coaches stopped serving Wolverhampton and suburban stops in the Birmingham area (but not Birmingham Coach Station itself) and Manchester (but not Manchester Airport).{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/OurService/ServiceUpdateUnrest.aspx|title=Coach Service Update|publisher=Nationalexpress.com|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927094957/http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/OurService/ServiceUpdateUnrest.aspx|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}

Five Football League Cup games due to be played on 9 and 10 August were postponed after requests from police due to the riots. The games at Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and West Ham United were all postponed, as they were all situated within a short distance of areas which had seen some of the worst disturbances.{{cite news|title=West Ham-Aldershot Carling Cup tie postponed on police advice|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14368510.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2011|date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716224311/http://www.ne/|archive-date=16 July 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=London riots hit sports fixtures|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/14454137.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2011|date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326214106/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/14454137|archive-date=26 March 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Charlton-Reading Carling Cup match called off|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14368434.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=8 August 2011|date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822094414/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14368434|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}} There was also uncertainty as to the Third Test cricket match between India and England, at Edgbaston in Birmingham, but the match was played.{{Cite news|title=London riots continue, Birmingham test in jeopardy|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/london-riots-continue-birmingham-test-in-jeopardy-125318|publisher=NDTV|access-date=9 August 2011|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810165300/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/london-riots-continue-birmingham-test-in-jeopardy-125318|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Test set to begin despite riots|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/story/526739.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219225131/http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/story/526739.html|archive-date=19 December 2011|url-status=live}}

The international football friendly match between England and the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium due to take place on 10 August was cancelled, as well as the international friendly between Ghana and Nigeria scheduled for 9 August at Vicarage Road, Watford.{{cite news|title=Ghana versus Nigeria friendly in Watford called off|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14465389.stm|access-date=9 August 2011|date=9 August 2011|work=BBC News}}{{Cite news|title=Four Carling Cup ties postponed|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/7089237/Four-Carling-Cup-ties-postponed|access-date=9 August 2011|date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021063035/http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/7089237/Four-Carling-Cup-ties-postponed |archive-date=21 October 2013}}

Tottenham Hotspur's opening game of the 2011–12 Premier League season against Everton on 13 August was postponed.{{cite news|title=Tottenham v Everton match postponed after London riots|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14485169.stm|access-date=11 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822094347/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14485169|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/872070-spurs-v-everton-off-but-liverpool-man-united-qpr-and-fulham-get-go-ahead|title=Spurs v Everton off but Liverpool, Manchester United F.C., QPR and Fulham get go-ahead|work=Metro|location=UK|date=30 June 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817194730/http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/872070-spurs-v-everton-off-but-liverpool-man-united-qpr-and-fulham-get-go-ahead|archive-date=17 August 2011|url-status=live}} The League Two game between Cheltenham Town and Swindon Town, due to be played the same day, was also initially postponed until further consultation allowed Gloucestershire Police to provide the required resources.{{cite news|url=http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~2417567,00.html |title=Match back on! |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=13 August 2011 |publisher=Cheltenham Town F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402022658/http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10434~2417567%2C00.html |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|Timeline of the 2011 England riots}}

Following the initial disorder in Tottenham, the constituency Labour MP David Lammy appealed for calm, saying that "true justice can only follow a thorough investigation of the facts"{{cite news|title=David Lammy Appeals for Calm after Tottenham Riots|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/07/david-lammy-appeals-for-c_n_920360.html|work=Huffington Post|location=USA|access-date=7 August 2011|date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112100207/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/07/david-lammy-appeals-for-c_n_920360.html|archive-date=12 January 2012|url-status=live}} and that Tottenham had had its "heart ripped out" by the riots.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687150/Tottenham-riot-burned-out-shops-may-contain-dead-bodies-MP-David-Lammy-warns.html|title=Tottenham riot: burned out shops may contain dead bodies, MP David Lammy warns|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=7 August 2011|location=London|first=Michael|last=Howie|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216073242/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687150/Tottenham-riot-burned-out-shops-may-contain-dead-bodies-MP-David-Lammy-warns.html|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=live}} He said that rioters were not representative of the local community as a whole{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Sparrow|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/07/politicians-condemn-tottenham-riots|title=Politicians condemn Tottenham riots|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118100822/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/07/politicians-condemn-tottenham-riots|archive-date=18 January 2014|url-status=live}} and insisted that the Independent Police Complaints Commission must fully establish the circumstances of Mark Duggan's death. Lammy voiced concerns that the EDL and BNP were playing on the London riots and people's fears to advance their political motives.{{cite news|last=Lammy|first=David|title=David Lammy: Prejudices of the few eclipsed by civic pride|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/david-lammy-prejudices-of-the-few-eclipsed-by-civic-pride-2337446.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/david-lammy-prejudices-of-the-few-eclipsed-by-civic-pride-2337446.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=19 August 2011|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|date=14 August 2011}}{{cbignore}}

File:Boris Johnson (cropped).jpg Boris Johnson]]

Streatham's Labour MP Chuka Umunna condemned the violence in Brixton and Tottenham.{{cite news|author1=Sam Jones|author2=Paul Lewis|author3=Matthew Taylor|author4=Ben Quinn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-spread-second-night|title=London riots spread south of Thames|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=8 July 2011|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118141148/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-spread-second-night|archive-date=18 January 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/streathamnews/9183106.UPDATE__Looters_cause_chaos_in_Streatham_and_Brixton|title=Looters cause chaos in Streatham and Brixton|date=8 August 2011 |publisher=Yourlocalguardian.co.uk|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004183502/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/streathamnews/9183106.UPDATE__Looters_cause_chaos_in_Streatham_and_Brixton/|archive-date=4 October 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9183409.UPDATE__Lambeth_Council_leader__They_were_looters_not_rioters_|title=UPDATE: Lambeth Council leader "They were looters, not rioters". (from the Streatham Guardian)|publisher=Streathamguardian.co.uk|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930030826/http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9183409.UPDATE__Lambeth_Council_leader__They_were_looters_not_rioters_/|archive-date=30 September 2011|url-status=dead}} Umunna called for the BlackBerry Messenger service, used by some of the rioters to co-ordinate their activities, to be "temporarily disabled" between 6pm and 6am BST.{{cite news|title=UK riots|url=http://www.dracos.co.uk/work/bbc-news-archive/2011/08/09/22.25.html|work=BBC News|date=9 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007000659/http://www.dracos.co.uk/work/bbc-news-archive/2011/08/09/22.25.html|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=live}}

The use of BlackBerry Messenger to encourage violent disorder led to arrests – a Colchester man was detained under the Serious Crime Act.{{cite web|title=Police reassure residents they are working to keep county safe|url=http://www.essex.police.uk/news_features/latest_news_updates/police_reassure_residents_they.aspx|publisher=Essex Police|access-date=16 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828053503/http://www.essex.police.uk/news_features/latest_news_updates/police_reassure_residents_they.aspx|archive-date=28 August 2011}}{{Location map+|United Kingdom Greater London|

|caption=Location of incidents on 6 and 7 August: Red = 6 August, Yellow = 7 August

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}}John Randall, the Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip said: "It's a small minority of people causing the trouble. The events in Ealing brought it home, it's just down the Uxbridge Road."{{cite web|url=http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2011/08/10/police-praised-for-preventing-riots-in-hillingdon-113046-29210870|title=Police praised for preventing riots in Hillingdon|work=Uxbridge Gazette|date=9 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154434/http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2011/08/10/police-praised-for-preventing-riots-in-hillingdon-113046-29210870/|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=live}} Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott called for the introduction of a curfew.

Newark MP Colonel Patrick Mercer called for the deployment of water cannon.{{Cite news|title=Theresa May urged to send in water cannon to tackle riots|first=Haroon|last=Siddique|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=9 August 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/theresa-may-water-cannon-riots|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910214000/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/theresa-may-water-cannon-riots|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=live}} In December 2010 Theresa May, the Home Secretary, had said that the deployment of water cannon by police forces on the British mainland was an operational decision which had been "resisted until now by senior police officers".{{Cite news|first=Andrew|last=Porter|title=Police could use water cannon to disperse rioters, Theresa May says|date=12 December 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8197432/Police-could-use-water-cannon-to-disperse-rioters-Theresa-May-says.html|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420083705/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8197432/Police-could-use-water-cannon-to-disperse-rioters-Theresa-May-says.html|archive-date=20 April 2012|url-status=live}} On 9 August 2011, May rejected their use and said: "The way we police in Britain is not through use of water cannon. The way we police in Britain is through consent of communities." Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor, said "The issue of water cannon would be very useful given the level of arson we are seeing here." Scotland Yard said officers did not have any water cannon and if their use was approved they would have to be brought over from Northern Ireland.{{Cite news|title=London riots: Theresa May rejects calls for water cannon|first=Tom|last=Whitehead|date=9 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690466/London-riots-Theresa-May-rejects-calls-for-water-cannon.html|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810175449/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690466/London-riots-Theresa-May-rejects-calls-for-water-cannon.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}

May said: "I condemn utterly the violence in Tottenham... Such disregard for public safety and property will not be tolerated, and the Metropolitan Police have my full support in restoring order." She returned to the UK from her summer holiday early to meet senior police officials on 8 August.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office added: "The rioting in Tottenham last night was utterly unacceptable. There is no justification for the aggression the police and the public faced, or for the damage to property."{{cite news|title=London riots: Police patrol streets after violence|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14435251|work=BBC News|date=7 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809203535/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14435251|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}

The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said that the riots were "completely unacceptable" and described the violence as "needless and opportunistic".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14443082|title=Nick Clegg: Riots 'completely unacceptable'|publisher=BBC|date=8 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202122828/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14443082|archive-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.heralddeparis.com/london-violence-needless-opportunistic-theft/143750 |title=London violence: "needless opportunistic theft" |publisher=Herald de Paris |date=8 August 2011 |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007022835/http://www.heralddeparis.com/london-violence-needless-opportunistic-theft/143750 |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}

London's mayor, Boris Johnson, who cut short his summer holiday in Canada to return to the UK on 9 August,{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14444067|title=London riots: David Cameron cuts short holiday|publisher=BBC News | work = BBC News|access-date=10 August 2024}} said: "I'm appalled at the scenes of violence and destruction in Tottenham" whilst his deputy Kit Malthouse told a Sky News reporter that "criminal elements were to blame for the trouble".

Prime Minister David Cameron returned from his Italian summer holiday early and he chaired several COBRA emergency meetings with police officials. Cameron condemned the "terrible scenes of people looting, vandalising, thieving, robbing" and 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."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14460554|title=UK riots: Trouble erupts in English cities|access-date=10 August 2011|work=BBC News|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810025442/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14460554|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell called the damage caused in the London Borough of Croydon "sickening".{{cite web|last=Your Local Guardian|title=Riot Fall Out Hits Croydon|date=8 August 2011 |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/9183466.LIVE__Riot_fallout_hits_Croydon/|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124051224/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/9183466.LIVE__Riot_fallout_hits_Croydon/|archive-date=24 November 2011|url-status=live}}

In a strongly worded criticism of what he deems to be a misplaced "hyper-sensitivity about race", dating back to the Macpherson Report of 1999, Civitas director David Green attributed the reluctance by police to use force to a fear of disciplinary action. He said that "officers in charge of [handling] a riot think it safer to wait for orders from the top".{{cite news|title=Lions led by donkeys: why the police 'had it coming'|author=David Green|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 August 2011|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/lions-led-by-donkeys-why-the-police-had-it-coming-20110809-1ijux.html|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821165009/http://www.smh.com.au/world/lions-led-by-donkeys-why-the-police-had-it-coming-20110809-1ijux.html|archive-date=21 August 2014|url-status=live}}

In a public speech on 15 August, David Cameron blamed a "broken society" in "moral collapse"{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14524834|title=England riots: Broken society is top priority – Cameron|access-date=15 August 2011|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815171246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14524834|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=live}} – broad societal change themes common to his party's election campaign theme Broken Britain.

The city councils of Manchester and Salford were reported to be investigating their powers for ways of evicting tenants if they, or their children, have been involved in violence or looting in their cities.{{cite news|title=Rioters identified on CCTV face eviction say councils|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14478498|date=10 August 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811173429/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14478498|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} The London Borough of Greenwich also stated on its website: "We shall seek the eviction of anyone living in council property if they are found to have been engaged in criminal acts."{{cite news|title=Leader: We will re-build our community|url=http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/News/LatestNews/Council-pledges-help-after-Woolwich-looting-unrest.htm |date=12 August 2011|work=Greenwich Council|access-date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929190748/http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/News/LatestNews/Council-pledges-help-after-Woolwich-looting-unrest.htm |archive-date=29 September 2011}}

Several countries issued warnings advising caution to travellers visiting the United Kingdom during the riots.{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/10/uk.riots.international.view|first=Barry|last=Neild|title=Libya, Iran revel in mocking Britain over riots|publisher=CNN International|date=10 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102184739/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/10/uk.riots.international.view/|archive-date=2 November 2011|url-status=dead}}

Khaled Kaim, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Gaddafi government in Libya, called on Cameron to resign over the riots, stating that "Cameron has lost all legitimacy and must go", he also called for an international intervention in the UK against Cameron and accused Cameron of using Irish and Scottish mercenaries against rioters, mocking Cameron's comments on Gaddafi during the First Libyan Civil War that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8694505/UK-riots-Gaddafi-calls-on-David-Cameron-to-step-down-over-rioting.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8694505/UK-riots-Gaddafi-calls-on-David-Cameron-to-step-down-over-rioting.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=UK riots: Gaddafi calls on David Cameron to step down over rioting|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=11 August 2011 }}{{cbignore}}

In 2012, the Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari compared the situation and government response of the Syrian uprising to that of the 2011 England riots.{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-06-20/syrian-diplomat-compares-uprising-to-london-riots/ |title = Syrian diplomat compares uprising to London riots {{!}} ITV News |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623140502/http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-06-20/syrian-diplomat-compares-uprising-to-london-riots/ |archive-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=live }}

File:Cyber Candy Birmingham after riots.jpg" graffiti on boards covering the windows of the Cyber Candy store in Upper Bull Street, Birmingham, smashed in the riots]]The riots were described by one journalist as "the worst disturbances of their kind since the 1995 Brixton riots".{{cite news|title=London riots: Tensions behind unrest revealed |first=Peter |last=Jackson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436529 |work=BBC News |location=BBC Television Centre, White City, London |date=7 August 2011 |access-date=8 August 2011 |quote=Rioting has again erupted on the streets of Tottenham almost 26 years after the Broadwater Farm riot. But what lies beneath the latest violent outburst in this chequered corner of north London? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809203638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436529 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|first=David|last=Millward|title=Tottenham riot rekindles memories of unrest in the 1980s|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687243/Tottenham-riot-rekindles-memories-of-unrest-in-the-1980s.html|date=7 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808010400/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687243/Tottenham-riot-rekindles-memories-of-unrest-in-the-1980s.html|archive-date=8 August 2011|url-status=live}}

Commentators likened the riots to the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985, during which a police officer, Keith Blakelock, was murdered.{{Cite news|last=Lammy|first=David|title=Tottenham riot: The lesson of Broadwater Farm|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=7 August 2011|date=7 August 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riot-broadwater-farm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143501/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riot-broadwater-farm|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}

The disturbances were preceded by calls for better oversight of the Metropolitan Police, repeating observations which go back to the death of Stephen Lawrence and the New Cross Fire.

In April 2011{{cite news|title=Police "failed miserably" dead reggae star Smiley Culture|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/police-failed-miserably-dead-reggae-star-smiley-culture|date=16 April 2011|work=Channel 4 News|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827035408/http://www.channel4.com/news/police-failed-miserably-dead-reggae-star-smiley-culture|archive-date=27 August 2011|url-status=live}} there was a large nonviolent march to Scotland Yard as a result of the death of Smiley Culture.{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Martin|title=The sad truth behind London riot|url=http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/07/7292281-the-sad-truth-behind-london-riot|work=NBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812095200/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/07/7292281-the-sad-truth-behind-london-riot |archive-date=12 August 2011}} The very widespread scale of the violence prompted comparisons with the Gordon Riots of 1780.{{cite news|title=Londoners: Rioting through the ages|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/2011891626155535.html|last=Vallance|first=Ted|date=9 August 2011|access-date=12 August 2011|publisher=Al Jazeera|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810133816/http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/2011891626155535.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}

The Daily Telegraph{{'}}s editorial said: "What we have experienced in London and elsewhere since Saturday night is a wholly new phenomenon: violent disorder whose sole intent is criminal... In such circumstances, there can be only one response if the law-abiding majority is to be protected: the thugs must be taught to respect the law of the land the hard way."{{cite news|title=The criminals who shame our nation|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8691352/The-criminals-who-shame-our-nation.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|date=9 August 2011|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002125320/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/8691352/The-criminals-who-shame-our-nation.html|archive-date=2 October 2018|url-status=live}}

The Telegraph also reported: "Tottenham riots: police let gangs run riot and loot: Britain's biggest police force is facing criticism after it let looters run riot in north London for almost 12 hours..."{{cite news |title=Tottenham riots: police let gangs run riot and loot |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687540/Tottenham-riots-police-let-gangs-run-riot-and-loot.html |publisher=The Telegraph, 7 August 2011 |access-date=27 February 2013 |location=London |first=Martin |last=Beckford |date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213123815/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687540/Tottenham-riots-police-let-gangs-run-riot-and-loot.html |archive-date=13 February 2013 |url-status=live }}

The Guardian called on the public to back the police: "... Britain's 2011 riots have become a defining contest between disorder and order. In that contest, important caveats notwithstanding, there is only one right side to be on. The attacks, the destruction, the criminality and the reign of fear must be stopped. The rule of law in the cities of Britain must not only be defended against delinquent destruction. It must also be enforced."{{cite news|title=Urban riots: The battle for the streets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/09/urban-riots-battle-streets-editorial|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=9 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428143643/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/09/urban-riots-battle-streets-editorial|archive-date=28 April 2015|url-status=live}}

During the height of the riots, The Guardian was accused of anti-Semitic incitement by the media monitoring organisation, Comment Is Free Watch (CiFW), after Guardian journalist Paul Lewis singled out Hasidic Jewish residents who were not involved in the rioting.{{cite web|title=Guardian report on London riots omits the race or ethnicity of rioters – but, still mentions Jews|url=http://cifwatch.com/2011/08/08/guardian-report-on-london-riots-omits-the-race-or-ethnicity-of-rioters-but-still-mentions-jews/|publisher=CiF Watch|access-date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922111658/http://cifwatch.com/2011/08/08/guardian-report-on-london-riots-omits-the-race-or-ethnicity-of-rioters-but-still-mentions-jews/|archive-date=22 September 2012|url-status=live}} The content of his report stated, "The make-up of the rioters was racially mixed. Most were men or boys, some apparently as young as 10....But families and other local residents, including some from Tottenham's Hasidic Jewish community, also gathered to watch and jeer at police." CIFW responded by condemning the newspaper saying, "A 1,800 Guardian report doesn't mention the race, ethnicity, or religion of the rioters, somehow found it pertinent to note that some of those who gathered to jeer police were, allegedly, Hasidic Jews." As a result of the negative publicity, The Guardian revised the story.{{cite web|title=The Guardian revises story about UK Riots which singled out Hasidic Jews|url=http://cifwatch.com/2011/08/09/the-guardian-revises-story-about-uk-riots-which-singled-out-hasidic-jews/|publisher=CiF Watch|date=9 August 2011|access-date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017072305/http://cifwatch.com/2011/08/09/the-guardian-revises-story-about-uk-riots-which-singled-out-hasidic-jews/|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=live}}

In its 9 August leading article, The Independent said the police's handling of Mark Duggan's death "looks to have been poor", and that there is "context of mistrust of the police here". The paper added that "it is spurious to draw a connection between that disaffection [by the inner-city youth] and specific outbreaks of violence of the sort we have seen in recent days."{{cite news|title=Leading article: The lessons to be drawn from mindless violence|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-lessons-to-be-drawn-from-mindless-violence-2333987.html|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=9 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017184717/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-lessons-to-be-drawn-from-mindless-violence-2333987.html|archive-date=17 October 2011|url-status=live}}

Psychiatrist Theodore Dalrymple wrote an opinion piece for the New York Daily News, in which he blamed the "sense of entitlement" that he sees as being common among Britain's youth as a cause for the riots, and said that British youth are today among "the most unpleasant and violent in the world" as a result.{{cite news|last=Daniels|first=Anthony|title=Behind England's riots, a violent and entitled generation of British young people|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/08/10/2011-08-10_behind_englands_riots_a_violent_and_entitled_generation_of_british_young_people.html|work=Daily News|access-date=12 August 2011|author-link=Theodore Dalrymple |location=New York |date=10 August 2011}}

Some journalists made comparisons between these riots and the 2005 riots in France.{{cite news|author=J. David Goodman|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/plus-ca-change-riots-in-london-and-paris|title=Riots in London and Paris: Plus Ça Change?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 November 2006|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810234134/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/plus-ca-change-riots-in-london-and-paris/|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10744251|title=UK riots parallel France|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=17 March 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064838/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10744251|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} In both cases, the unrest started with the death of a young person during a confrontation with the police. In fact, a television report by France 2, broadcast in November 2005, showed a visit by a delegation from Évry (just outside Paris) to Tottenham, with the report calling "Tottenham part of London "regularly shaken by riots" in earlier decades, where "a lot of money was invested" and "the promotion of ethnic minorities", had been made a priority".

Writing in Pakistan's Newsline, Mahir Ali likened the government's response to that of Margaret Thatcher to the 1981 England riots.{{cite news | url=http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2011/09/english-meltdown-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-london-riots/ | archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110915204946/http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2011/09/english-meltdown-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-london-riots/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=15 September 2011 | title=English Meltdown: Trying to Make Sense of The London Riots | work=Newsline | date=13 September 2011 | access-date=13 September 2011 | author=Ali, Mahir | location=Karachi | quote=There was plenty of breast-beating back then [1981] too, and Thatcher came up with prescriptions remarkably similar to the ones that Cameron has lately been offering. }}

File:Peace wall at Manchester Arndale Centre, 2011 riots.jpg]]

File:The Co-operative loves MCR.jpg, Manchester.]]

Many people called for the government to urge the police to deploy anti-riot methods often used outside Great Britain, such as water cannon and baton rounds (which have been used in Northern Ireland), the use of which has long been resisted by senior police commanders and politicians.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690220/London-riots-send-in-water-cannon-to-clear-streets-Theresa-May-told.html|title=London riots: send in water cannon to clear streets, Theresa May told|author1=Tom Whitehead|author2=Andrew Hough|date=8 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002121044/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690220/London-riots-send-in-water-cannon-to-clear-streets-Theresa-May-told.html|archive-date=2 October 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Kenyans take shelter from London riots |newspaper=Capital FM News, Kenya |date=9 August 2011 |url=http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2011/08/09/kenyans-take-shelter-from-london-riots |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218201021/http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2011/08/09/kenyans-take-shelter-from-london-riots |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Siddique|first=Haroon|title=Theresa May urged to send in water cannon to tackle riots|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/theresa-may-water-cannon-riots|newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 August 2011|location=London|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115160614/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/theresa-may-water-cannon-riots|archive-date=15 November 2016|url-status=live}}

Pauline Pearce, a 45-year-old woman from Hackney, was filmed close to the rioting, furiously chastising looters over their criminal behaviour.{{cite news |first=Duncan |last=Gardham |title="Hackney speech woman" revealed to be local jazz singer |date=10 August 2011 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8692712/Hackney-speech-woman-revealed-to-be-local-jazz-singer.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811035530/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8692712/Hackney-speech-woman-revealed-to-be-local-jazz-singer.html |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|first=Tom |last=Harper |title=A million hits for footage of Hackney woman berating looters |date=9 August 2011 |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976731-a-million-hits-for-footage-of-hackney-woman-berating-looters.do |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114051727/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976731-a-million-hits-for-footage-of-hackney-woman-berating-looters.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2013 |work=London Evening Standard |access-date=10 August 2011 }}{{cite news|title=London riots: Woman confronts rioters in Hackney|date=9 August 2011|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690275/London-riots-Woman-confronts-rioters-in-Hackney.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810055002/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690275/London-riots-Woman-confronts-rioters-in-Hackney.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=dead}} She was seen holding a walking-stick and gesturing. The resulting Heroine of Hackney video subsequently went viral.

Its rapid spread was helped by tweeting from famous people such as newspaper editor Piers Morgan. Pearce was hailed as a heroine for helping to ease tensions in Hackney; her influence was acknowledged by politicians{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |title=David Lammy: "There is a history in Tottenham that involves deaths in police custody" |date=14 August 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/14/david-lammy-tottenham-mark-duggan |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003122644/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/14/david-lammy-tottenham-mark-duggan |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jennette-arnold/reactionary-ideas-are-not_b_928780.html |title=Reactionary "Ideas" are not What London Needs |work=Huffington Post |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011 |author=Arnold, Jennette |location=New York City |author-link=Jennette Arnold |quote=At a recent meeting with Mayor Johnson [...] I wish he had taken up my offer to come with me to Clarence Rd in Hackney, one of the worst affected areas in the Borough, for a street-reclaiming tea party that had been organised by the rector of Hackney, Fr Rob Wickham and the local community. [...] He also would have met Pauline Pearce. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112100221/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jennette-arnold/reactionary-ideas-are-not_b_928780.html |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=live }} and the national press.{{cite news |first=Allison |last=Pearson |author-link=Allison Pearson |title=Raised to rampage |date=10 August 2011 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8693536/Raised-to-rampage.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=12 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812033805/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8693536/Raised-to-rampage.html |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Cassandra |last=Jardine |title=Burnt out but not bowed by the mob |date=12 August 2011 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8697990/Burnt-out-but-not-bowed-by-the-mob.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=15 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815134516/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8697990/Burnt-out-but-not-bowed-by-the-mob.html |archive-date=15 August 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Zoe |last=Williams |author-link=Zoe Williams |title=UK riots: the stories behind the people who defined the week |date=12 August 2011 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/uk-riots-people-defined-the-week |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113203849/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/uk-riots-people-defined-the-week |archive-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live }} MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, Meg Hillier, invited Pearce to the Houses of Parliament.{{cite news |first=Adrian |last=Butler |title=UK riots: the heroine of Hackney Pauline Pearce reveals why she took a stand |date=14 August 2011 |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/14/uk-riots-the-heroine-of-hackney-pauline-pearce-reveals-why-she-took-a-stand-115875-23342559/ |work=Sunday Mirror |access-date=15 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814015731/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/14/uk-riots-the-heroine-of-hackney-pauline-pearce-reveals-why-she-took-a-stand-115875-23342559/ |archive-date=14 August 2011 |url-status=live }} Speaking to The Australian newspaper, Pearce described the looting and vandalism as being "heart-breaking" and also contrasted people's relative poverty with expenditure for the Olympic Games.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Mistry |author2=Fordham, Craig |title=Voice of reason amid London violence |date=9 August 2011 |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/voice-of-reason-amid-london-violence/story-e6frg6so-1226111679575 |work=The Australian |access-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203213214/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/voice-of-reason-amid-london-violence/story-e6frg6so-1226111679575 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=live }} Pearce was subsequently featured in The Spectator, dismissing David Starkey's view that hip-hop culture was partly to blame for the riots.{{cite news |url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/7204558/fifteen-minutes-later.thtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421095140/http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/7204558/fifteen-minutes-later.thtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Fifteen minutes later |work=The Spectator |date=3 September 2011 |access-date=22 September 2011 |author=Manzoor, Sarfraz |quote=She is equally so about historian David Starkey's controversial claim that hip-hop culture and in particular a "particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic gangster culture" was to blame for the riots. 'What do you I think of that?' she says. 'Well, in the Queen's English: balderdash. Pigswill. What's been going on has no link to hip-hop. Instead of guessing in his suit and tie he should put a pair of jeans on and get out there and walk around with the people.' }} In September 2011, she was awarded the Team London Award at the annual Peace Awards by Boris Johnson.{{cite news |url=http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/london_mayor_boris_johnson_praises_hackney_heroine_pauline_pearce_1_1029077 |title=London Mayor Boris Johnson praises "Hackney heroine" Pauline Pearce |work=Hackney Gazette |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=22 September 2011 |author=Bartholomew, Emma |location=London |quote=Mr Johnson presented [Pauline Pearce] with a Team London Award at the annual Peace Awards ceremony at City Hall, where he also thanked other "unsung heroes" of the recent disorder in the capital. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004032653/http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/london_mayor_boris_johnson_praises_hackney_heroine_pauline_pearce_1_1029077 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=live }}

File:Still image from Hackney woman 2011 speech.jpg's Heroine of Hackney speech]]

On Amazon, sales of baseball bats and truncheons increased significantly overnight. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh stated: "We are already seeing a community kickback. People are angry. This is their neighbourhoods that are at stake." Political commentator and foreign affairs analyst Nile Gardiner suggested that the British Government should prompt a debate which will allow British business owners the right to keep and bear arms.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100100323/if-british-shopkeepers-had-the-right-to-bear-arms-vicious-thugs-would-think-twice-before-looting/ |title=Nile Gardineer, "If British shopkeepers had the right to bear arms, vicious thugs would think twice before looting", The Telegraph, 10 August 2011. |access-date=14 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060035/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100100323/if-british-shopkeepers-had-the-right-to-bear-arms-vicious-thugs-would-think-twice-before-looting/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Three men killed in a hit-and-run incident in Birmingham, Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali, and Abdul Musavir Tariq, were described as heroes for dying while attempting to defend their neighbourhood.{{cite web|last=Pettifor|first=Tom|title=Birmingham riots: family tributes to three men who died protecting their community from looters|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/11/birmingham-riots-family-tributes-to-three-men-who-died-protecting-their-community-from-looters-115875-23335899/|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=14 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813102144/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/11/birmingham-riots-family-tributes-to-three-men-who-died-protecting-their-community-from-looters-115875-23335899/|archive-date=13 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=UK riots: hero's family vow to tell his unborn child he died protecting others|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/most-popular/headlines/2011/08/14/uk-riots-hero-s-family-vow-to-tell-his-unborn-child-he-died-protecting-others-115875-23342556/|work=Sunday Mirror|access-date=14 August 2011|date=14 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814015653/http://www.mirror.co.uk/most-popular/headlines/2011/08/14/uk-riots-hero-s-family-vow-to-tell-his-unborn-child-he-died-protecting-others-115875-23342556/|archive-date=14 August 2011|url-status=live}} Tariq Jahan, the father of 21-year-old victim Haroon, gave a speech appealing for calm, social unity and an end to the violence, hours after his son's death. Jahan was hailed as a hero and a patriot for helping to ease tensions in Birmingham; his influence was acknowledged by politicians and the national press, receiving an award at the 2011 Pride of Britain Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.prideofbritain.com/contentpages/winners/2011/tariq_jahan.aspx|title=The Pride of Britain Awards – Tariq Jahan|access-date=20 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906120647/http://www.prideofbritain.com/contentpages/winners/2011/tariq_jahan.aspx|archive-date=6 September 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/11/tariq-jahan-first-generation-muslim-migrant|title=Tariq Jahan's is the patriotic voice of a first-generation Muslim migrant|author=Faisal Hanif|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=20 April 2015|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415061325/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/11/tariq-jahan-first-generation-muslim-migrant|archive-date=15 April 2015|url-status=live}} Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan said of him: "Uncomplaining, in control of his emotions, Tariq Jahan reminds us of what it means to be British."{{cite news|last=Hannan|first=Daniel|title=Amid all the bad news, Tariq Jahan made me feel proud to be British|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100100638/amid-all-the-bad-news-tariq-jahan-made-me-feel-proud-to-be-british|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 August 2011|location=London|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407195606/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100100638/amid-all-the-bad-news-tariq-jahan-made-me-feel-proud-to-be-british/|archive-date=7 April 2016|url-status=dead}} The Financial Times described Jahan as eloquent and inspiring, and said "His selfless intervention contrasted with the rapacious self-interest of the looters, and was a timely reminder of the obligations of community."{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32d344c8-c4dc-11e0-9c4d-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1WA1O3Kpn|title=Disunited kingdom|work=Financial Times|date=12 August 2011|access-date=20 April 2015}}

Tens of thousands of users of social networking sites coordinated clean-up operations of their local shopping areas and streets. Some of these groups began being referred to as 'riot wombles', taking up brooms and other tools to clear streets of debris and wreckage,{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Melissa |date=2011-08-09 |title=U.K. Riot Wombles hit the streets for clean up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/uk-riot-wombles-hit-the-streets-for-clean-up/2011/08/09/gIQAxxhh4I_blog.html |access-date=2022-08-09 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US}} a term that was later used by Prime Minister David Cameron during a speech on the aftermath of the riots on 15 August 2011.{{Cite web |title=PM's speech on the fightback after the riots |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pms-speech-on-the-fightback-after-the-riots |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=GOV.UK |date=15 August 2011 |language=en}} Social media sites Twitter and Facebook were also used for reporting information on the riots and to co-ordinate a voluntary citizens' operation to clear up riot-hit areas.{{cite web|url=http://londonist.com/2011/08/wombles-needed-how-to-help-with-the-riot-cleanup.php|title=Wombles Needed: How To Help With The Riot Cleanup|publisher=Londonist|date=9 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116214159/http://londonist.com/2011/08/wombles-needed-how-to-help-with-the-riot-cleanup.php|archive-date=16 November 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14456857|title=Twitter and Facebook users arrange London riot clean-up|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 August 2011|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809171712/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14456857|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Bradshaw|first=Tim|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bb2c434a-c263-11e0-9ede-00144feabdc0.html|title=Twitter users unite for riot clean-up|work=Financial Times|date=28 July 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506225950/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bb2c434a-c263-11e0-9ede-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=6 May 2012|url-status=live}} In Clapham Junction, dozens of volunteers carrying brooms turned out to assist with clean-up efforts.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16046412|title=Locals Fight Back With Brooms And Marigolds|publisher=Sky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211012951/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16046412 |archive-date=11 February 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp_HsHrJb4A&feature=player_embedded|title=London riots: The big community clean up in Clapham after night of looting and violence|date=10 August 2011 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722213436/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp_HsHrJb4A&feature=player_embedded|archive-date=22 July 2013|url-status=live}} On Facebook, over 900,000 people joined a group entitled "Supporting the Met Police against the London rioters".

Manchester City Councillor Pat Karney, the city centre spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "The true Mancunian civic spirit has been shown in Manchester today." Staff from city centre businesses and Manchester Metropolitan University joined the volunteers, as food outlets gave out free drinks and snacks.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14478902|title=Hundreds join Manchester clean-up after riots|publisher=BBC|date=10 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927222547/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14478902|archive-date=27 September 2018|url-status=live}} There were several fundraising initiatives to help independent business owners re-build their businesses and livelihoods.{{cite web |url=http://cravify.com/ |title=Riots & Donations (dedicated to the UK) |publisher=Cravify |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905032402/http://cravify.com/ |archive-date=5 September 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Capital Community Foundation |url=http://www.justgiving.com/lovelondonappeal |title=Sonal Shah is fundraising for Capital Community Foundation |publisher=Justgiving.com |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007135137/http://www.justgiving.com/lovelondonappeal |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=live }}

A petition was submitted to the UK government proposing that any convicted rioters have their benefit payments cut. This petition was signed by over 200,000 people.[http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337 "Convicted London rioters should {{sic|nolink=y|loose|expected=lose}} all benefits" from e-petitions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920201124/http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/7337 |date=20 September 2011 }}. Epetitions.direct.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2011.

A petition on the UK government website demanding convicted rioters to be banished to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland was set up in the summer of 2011. The reaction caused a public outcry in Scotland and eventually Westminster offered an apology to Western Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil.{{cite news|title=E-petition calls for rioters to be sent to Outer Hebrides|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8785248/E-petition-calls-for-rioters-to-be-sent-to-Outer-Hebrides.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 September 2011|location=London|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202122828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8785248/E-petition-calls-for-rioters-to-be-sent-to-Outer-Hebrides.html|archive-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live}}

By 20:00 on 7 August, the major rioting had spread to Wood Green, but some riot police were on hand. Again, the police did not intervene to stop the looting. The mostly Turkish and Kurdish shop owners along Wood Green, Turnpike Lane and Green Lanes, Harringay, were said to have formed local "protection units" around their shops.{{Cite news|title=Police lose control of streets shop owners form local 'protection units'|work=The London Daily News|url=http://www.thelondondailynews.com/police-lose-control-streets-shop-owners-form-local-protection-units-p-5381.html|date=7 August 2011|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004082333/http://www.thelondondailynews.com/police-lose-control-streets-shop-owners-form-local-protection-units-p-5381.html|archive-date=4 October 2011|url-status=dead}}

On 8 and 9 August, people from Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Kurdish, Turkish, Sikh and English communities chased down masked youths in several areas of North and East London, including Green Street, Hackney, Haringey, and Tower Hamlets.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/vigilantes-join-16000-police-on-capitals-streets-2334910.html|title=Vigilantes join 16,000 police on capital's streets|author=Jerome Taylor|date=10 August 2011|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922001810/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/vigilantes-join-16000-police-on-capitals-streets-2334910.html|archive-date=22 September 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=London riots: 'People are fighting back. It's their neighbourhoods at stake'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/london-riots-fighting-neighbourhoods|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|author1=Peter Beaumont|author2=Jasmine Coleman|author3=Sandra Laville|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222045115/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/london-riots-fighting-neighbourhoods|archive-date=22 December 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Muslim residents protect their communities|url=http://muslimmatters.org/2011/08/08/the-london-rioting-updates-for-muslims/|publisher=MuslimMatters.org|access-date=10 August 2011|date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020073011/http://muslimmatters.org/2011/08/08/the-london-rioting-updates-for-muslims/|archive-date=20 October 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=London riots: residents fight back|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8691761/London-riots-residents-fight-back.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|access-date=10 August 2011|author1=Martin Beckford|author2=James Hall|author3=Christopher Williams|author4=David Millward|date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810034001/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8691761/London-riots-residents-fight-back.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Graff|first=Peter|title=Foreigners stay calm and carry on in London riots|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-riots-foreigners-idUSTRE77A5PY20110811|work=Reuters|access-date=14 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812194725/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/us-britain-riots-foreigners-idUSTRE77A5PY20110811|archive-date=12 August 2011|url-status=live}} Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan praised the community for their brave and responsible reactions to the crisis.

On 9 August, vigilantes assembled in Enfield, including several members of the English Defence League,{{Cite web |url=http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/localnews/9188400.Deputy_Mayor_condemns_EDL_vigilantes_in_Enfield_last_night/ |title=David Hardiman, "Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse condemns Enfield Defence League vigilantes in Enfield last night", Enfield Independent, 10 August 2011. |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=6 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118052123/http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/localnews/9188400.Deputy_Mayor_condemns_EDL_vigilantes_in_Enfield_last_night/ |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=live }} locals and supporters of Millwall F.C. in Eltham,{{cite news|title=Fearsome fans take on rioters|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/fearsome-fans-take-on-rioters/story-e6frey4r-1226112765999|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=10 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822094346/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/z-redesign/archive-sport/fearsome-fans-take-on-rioters/news-story/c65c2ed4f6afc05d5c362ebb08429edf?nk=bec6284b19667a83483c244f33a9c2c6-1566467026|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=UK Riot Vigilantes Attempt To 'Reclaim The Streets'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/10/uk-riot-vigilantes-attemp_n_923110.html?1312983274|work=Huffington Post|access-date=10 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112180629/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/10/uk-riot-vigilantes-attemp_n_923110.html?1312983274|archive-date=12 January 2012|url-status=live}} and the Sikh communities in Southall, East Ham, Ilford, and Romford.{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhsangat.org/2011/08/hundreds-of-sikh-londoners-take-to-the-streets-to-keep-peace-in-various-towns-of-london|title=Hundreds of Sikh Londoners take to the streets to keep peace in various towns of London|publisher=Sikhsangat.org|access-date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930011902/http://www.sikhsangat.org/2011/08/hundreds-of-sikh-londoners-take-to-the-streets-to-keep-peace-in-various-towns-of-london/ |archive-date=30 September 2011}}

Sangat TV and Sikh Channel urged their viewers to protect Sikh temples after a report that one was attacked in Birmingham.{{cite news|url=http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2011/08/sangat_tv_switc.php|work=BizAsia|date=9 August 2011|title=Sangat TV switches to Birmingham riots coverage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408214116/http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2011/08/sangat_tv_switc.php |archive-date=8 April 2012}} On the night of 9–10 August 2011, following violence, arson and rioting in London, members of the Sikh community in Southall volunteered to stand guard at various city Gurdwaras, with as many as 200 to 300 Sikhs from different age groups gathered in various Gurudwaras across Southall to safeguard their places of worship from rioters, some armed with swords and hockey sticks.{{cite web|last=Singh|first=Tejashdeep|url=http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2011/08/10/sikhs-stood-guard-to-protect-gurudwaras-from-rioters-in-southall|title=Sikhs stood guard to protect Gurudwaras from rioters in Southall|publisher=Sikhsiyasat.net|date=23 July 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823132340/http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2011/08/10/sikhs-stood-guard-to-protect-gurudwaras-from-rioters-in-southall/|archive-date=23 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14470772|title=Southall Sikhs stand against London rioters|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811031719/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14470772|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} The Sikhs drew praise from Prime Minister David Cameron for this action.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/news/london-riots-cameron-hails-sikhs-for-protecting-gurdwara-news-international-lilskghcjij.html |title="London riots: Cameron hails Sikhs for protecting gurdwara". Sify News,11 August 2011. |website=Sify |access-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812010807/http://www.sify.com/news/london-riots-cameron-hails-sikhs-for-protecting-gurdwara-news-international-lilskghcjij.html |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}

On 10 August in Eltham, police clashed with a bottle-throwing crowd of about 200 vigilantes, including many English Defence League members.{{cite news|last=Hough|first=Andrew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8694472/London-riots-vigilantes-hurl-bottles-at-police-in-Eltham.html|title=London riots: vigilantes hurl bottles at police in Eltham|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=31 May 2011|access-date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811030141/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8694472/London-riots-vigilantes-hurl-bottles-at-police-in-Eltham.html|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} It was reported that 50 EDL members joined forces with locals to patrol the streets.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/police-clash-with-vigilantes-in-eltham|title=Police clash with vigilantes in Eltham – Channel 4 News|date=11 August 2011|publisher=Channel 4|access-date=12 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901024342/http://www.channel4.com/news/police-clash-with-vigilantes-in-eltham|archive-date=1 September 2011|url-status=live}} That same day, a senior police officer said that some vigilante groups were hampering police operations in London.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/london-riots-spark-copycat-birmingham|title=UK riots: More than 1,000 arrests strain legal system to the limit|date=10 August 2011|work=The Guardian|location=UK|first1=Sam|last1=Jones|first2=James|last2=Meikle|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407052729/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/london-riots-spark-copycat-birmingham|archive-date=7 April 2017|url-status=live}}

The ethnic makeup of the rioters varied in different cities: 76% of those arrested in Manchester were white, while 29% were white and 39% black in London, and the West Midlands was the only area where more than 6% were Asian.Phillips, Richard Phillips; Frost, Diane; and Singleton, Alex (March 2013). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2012.00463.x/full "Researching the Riots"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310101117/http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2012.00463.x/full |date=10 March 2013 }}, The Geographical Journal, Vol. 179, No. 1:

There has been much speculation about the causes and meanings of the riots that swept through English cities in August 2011...

These disturbances began on 6 August following the police shooting of Mark Duggan, a black resident of Tottenham, North London. Over the following days, they spread within London and to other English cities....

There were no riots in English cities such as Sheffield and Newcastle, and the streets of Welsh and Scottish cities remained equally calm.

Research conducted by the University of Nottingham suggested that race relations in Britain deteriorated in the period following the riots and that prejudice towards ethnic minorities increased.{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Matthew|title=British public 'are more prejudiced against minorities after riots'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/british-public-prejudiced-minorities-riots|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 September 2011|location=London|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116055144/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/05/british-public-prejudiced-minorities-riots|archive-date=16 November 2016|url-status=live}} After the hit-and-run incident in Birmingham, in which three Asian men were killed by a black driver, racial tensions between blacks and Asians in Birmingham increased; hostilities were defused by the public appeals for an end to violence by Tariq Jahan, father of one of the victims.{{cite news|last=Kerrins|first=Suzanne|title=Sir Ian Botham: bring in corporal punishment and ban reality TV to save today's youth|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/news/8786663/Sir-Ian-Botham-bring-in-corporal-punishment-and-ban-reality-TV-to-save-todays-youth.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=24 September 2011|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427100640/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/news/8786663/Sir-Ian-Botham-bring-in-corporal-punishment-and-ban-reality-TV-to-save-todays-youth.html|archive-date=27 April 2017|url-status=live}}

The effects of Black culture were discussed by historian David Starkey in the edition of the BBC's Newsnight TV programme of 12 August. Starkey singled out the influence of black gangster and rap culture on youths of all races, contrasting contemporary youth patois with the speech patterns of black Tottenham MP David Lammy, who, Starkey asserted, "sounded white". The author Dreda Say Mitchell countered his argument by saying that there is no one single "black culture".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14513517|title='The whites have become black' says David Starkey|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 August 2011|date=12 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815022708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14513517|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=live}}

Some commentators remarked on the apparently high proportion of black people involved in the riots and took the view that there was a disproportionately high number of rioters who were black, compared to the overall demographics of the United Kingdom.{{cite news|title=A reckoning – The black community wrestles with the causes of the riots|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21528285|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=14 November 2011|date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025011708/http://www.economist.com/node/21528285|archive-date=25 October 2011|url-status=live}} As the Ministry of Justice has admitted "the group of people brought before the courts is only a subset of all people who took part in the public disorder". In February 2012 a report was published by the Ministry of Justice providing demographic statistics of the people charged over participation the riots up to 1 February 2012 which revealed that 41% of those brought before the courts identified themselves as being from the White group, 39% from the black ethnic group, 12% from the Mixed ethnic group, 6% the Asian ethnic group, and 2% the Other ethnic group.Statistical bulletin on the public disorder of 6 to 9 August 2011 – February update These figures were disproportionate to the average UK population;{{cite web|title=Statistical bulletin on the public disorder of 6th–9th August 2011 full report|url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/criminal-justice-stats/august-public-disorder-stats-bulletin-230212.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Justice|access-date=26 June 2012|date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219082623/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217805/august-public-disorder-stats-bulletin-230212.pdf |archive-date=19 December 2014}}{{cite web|title=Gangs Had No "Pivotal Role" In English Riots|url=http://news.sky.com/home/article/16095055|publisher=Sky News|access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112122926/http://news.sky.com/home/article/16095055 |archive-date=12 January 2012}} however the figures revealed varying demographics in different areas when compared to local populations. For example, in Haringey, the figures revealed that 55% of defendants in court over riot-related charges were black, compared to a 17% Black population; in Salford, 94% of rioters in court were white, compared to an 88% white population, and 6% of rioters were black, compared to a 2% black population.{{cite news|title=England rioters 'poorer, younger, less educated'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15426720|access-date=13 November 2011|work=BBC News|date=24 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111185150/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15426720|archive-date=11 November 2011|url-status=live}} Additionally, looters from 44 foreign countries were jailed, with Jamaicans representing the largest group.{{cite news |title=Jailed rioters 'from 44 countries' |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/jailed-rioters-from-44-countries-28672797.html |access-date=15 January 2021 |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=24 October 2011}}

The Ministry of Justice report also noted that rioters brought before the courts were disproportionately male (89%) and young (53% were aged 20 or under, with the number of "juveniles" ranging from 26% in London to 39% in Merseyside, and very few listed as over 40).[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18681866 BBC News: "England riots: Who's been prosecuted?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404135603/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18681866 |date=4 April 2018 }}, quoting Ministry of Justice statistics from June 2012

File:Keir Starmer DPP.jpg, Director of Public Prosecutions]]

The Metropolitan Police launched Operation Withern, an investigation into the events leading up to and during the riots.{{cite news|title=London riots: Met Police launch major investigation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14438109|work=BBC News|date=7 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017182730/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14438109|archive-date=17 October 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author1=Sam Jones|author2=Paul Lewis|author3=Matthew Taylor|author4=Ben Quinn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-spread-second-night|title=London riots spread south of Thames|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=8 July 2011|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118141148/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-spread-second-night|archive-date=18 January 2014|url-status=live}} The operation was initially led by Detective Superintendent John Sweeney of the Metropolitan Police, with detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, specialist investigators from the Public Order Branch, and police support staff. Detective Superintendent Robin Bhairam, took over the post event investigation, where officers were drawn from all over the MPS, from different business groups, and placed into 10 Investigation Hubs across London.{{cite news|last=Holehouse|first=Matthew|title=Tottenham riot: Metropolitan Police calls in reinforcements amid fears of second night of disorder|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687559/Tottenham-riot-Metropolitan-Police-calls-in-reinforcements-amid-fears-of-second-night-of-disorder.html|access-date=15 November 2011|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=7 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813035854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687559/Tottenham-riot-Metropolitan-Police-calls-in-reinforcements-amid-fears-of-second-night-of-disorder.html|archive-date=13 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Disorder: Updates and Advice from Sunday 7 August|url=http://content.met.police.uk/News/Disorder-Updates-and-Advice-from-Sunday-7-August/1400002050912/1257246745756#16.20|publisher=Metropolitan Police|date=7 August 2011|access-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401045106/http://content.met.police.uk/News/Disorder-Updates-and-Advice-from-Sunday-7-August/1400002050912/1257246745756#16.20|archive-date=1 April 2012|url-status=live}} The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Steve Kavanagh, stated that the number of officers deployed tripled between 6 and 7 August.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8688226/London-riots-Met-admits-too-few-officers-deployed.html|title=London riots: Met admits too few officers deployed|first=John Paul|last=Rojas|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|date=8 August 2011|issn=0307-1235|oclc=49632006|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809012747/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8688226/London-riots-Met-admits-too-few-officers-deployed.html|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}

The BBC reported that West Midlands riot police officers were issued with plastic bullets to use against looters, but that none were fired.{{cite news |title=Birmingham gangs "not only to blame for riots" |date=6 September 2011 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14813632 |access-date=6 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925222645/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14813632 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |url-status=live }} Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Stephen Kavanagh confirmed that police in London were considering using baton rounds against rioters, not previously used by mainland police in public order operations (though they were first approved for use in England and Wales in 2001).{{Cite news|title=London and UK riots: live|first1=Raf|last1=Sanchez|first2=Matthew|last2=Holehouse|first3=Amy|last3=Willis|date=9 August 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687177/London-riots-live.html|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809005208/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687177/London-riots-live.html|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}

The Metropolitan Police assigned 450 detectives to hunt for rioters and looters.{{cite news|first=Sandra|last=Laville|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/london-riots-detectives-police|title=London riots: 450 detectives in hunt for looters|work=The Guardian|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003170900/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/london-riots-detectives-police|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status=live}} The list of photographed looters was made available on their website.{{cite web|url=http://www.met.police.uk/disordersuspects|title=Disorder Suspects Wanted|access-date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810105440/http://www.met.police.uk/disordersuspects/ |archive-date=10 August 2011}} Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police criticised "unprecedented" criminality. On 10 August, he warned: "Hundreds and hundreds of people, we have your image, we have your face, we have your acts of wanton criminality on film."{{cite news|author1=James Meikle|author2=Sam Jones|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/london-riots-spark-copycat-birmingham|title=UK riots: More than 1,000 arrests strain legal system to the limit|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=11 August 2011|date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150452/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/london-riots-spark-copycat-birmingham|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}

Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry, are reported to have contacted the police to offer help in investigating the use of their system for the organisation of riots.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-blackberry-messenger-looting |title=London riots: BlackBerry to help police probe Messenger looting "role" |author=Josh Halliday |date=8 August 2011 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202002536/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-blackberry-messenger-looting |archive-date=2 December 2016 |url-status=live }}

According to The Independent, the costs to the Metropolitan Police of policing the disorder and disturbances in London were expected to exceed £34 million. This would have been more than their total bill for the policing of all major public disorder events in the year from April 2010 to March 2011.{{cite news |title=Riots to cost Met police £34m |date=30 August 2011 |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/riots-to-cost-met-police-34m-2346117.html |access-date=3 September 2011 |location=London |first=Wesley |last=Johnson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021052419/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/riots-to-cost-met-police-34m-2346117.html |archive-date=21 October 2011 |url-status=live }}

By 15 August 2011 around 3,100 people had been arrested, of whom over 1,100 had appeared in court. On 25 August the BBC reported that more than 2,000 people had been arrested in connection with the disorder in London.{{cite news |title=London riots arrests reach 2,000, Met Police says |date=25 August 2011 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14668770 |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901024516/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14668770 |archive-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=live }}

Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Keir Starmer said that he thought that speedy prosecutions were more effective as a deterrent than long sentences.{{Cite news |last1=Bawdon |first1=Fiona |last2=Lewis |first2=Paul |last3=Newburn |first3=Tim |date=3 July 2020 |title=Rapid riot prosecutions more important than long sentences, says Keir Starmer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/03/riot-prosecutions-sentences-keir-starmer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420034812/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/03/riot-prosecutions-sentences-keir-starmer |archive-date=20 April 2020}} Some lawyers involved in the prosecutions criticised what they referred to as "chaos".{{Cite news |last=Bawdon |first=Fiona |date=22 December 2011 |title=England riots: all-night courts praised, but were they a publicity stunt? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/22/england-riots-all-night-courts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704022552/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/22/england-riots-all-night-courts |archive-date=4 July 2020 |work=The Guardian}}

It was reported in mid-August that some courts were advised by senior justice clerks to deal harshly with offences committed during the disturbances.{{cite news|title=UK riots: magistrates told "ignore the rule book" and lock up looters|date=15 August 2011|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8703370/UK-riots-magistrates-told-ignore-the-rule-book-and-lock-up-looters.html|access-date=16 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816021255/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8703370/UK-riots-magistrates-told-ignore-the-rule-book-and-lock-up-looters.html|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=live}} The advice was said to tell the courts that they could ignore existing sentencing guidelines and hand down heavy sentences. David Cameron defended the courts for handing out tough sentences, while some Liberal Democrat MPs and civil rights groups criticised some sentences being handed down.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14559294|title=PM defends "tough" riot sentences handed out by courts|publisher=BBC|date=17 August 2011|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026193359/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14559294|archive-date=26 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Michael Settle |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/coalition-split-on-sentences-linked-to-riots-1.1118308?localLinksEnabled=false |title=Coalition split on sentences linked to riots |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=18 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/riot-sentences-criticised-as-out-of-proportion |title=Riot sentences criticised as "out of proportion" – Channel 4 News |date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Channel 4 |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509074036/http://www.channel4.com/news/riot-sentences-criticised-as-out-of-proportion |archive-date=9 May 2015 |url-status=live }} Groups of lawyers complained that Crown Prosecutors were opposing bail in more cases than usual.{{cite news |author1=James Meikle |author2=Simon Rogers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/uk-riots-courts-warning |title=UK riots: Judges warned by Law Society not to hand down "rushed justice" |work=The Guardian |date=12 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115233414/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/12/uk-riots-courts-warning |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=live }} Empirical evidence suggests tougher sentencing reduced riot-related offences, but that non-riot offences increased.Bell, Brian, Laura Jaitman, and Stephen Machin. "Crime deterrence: Evidence from the London 2011 riots." The Economic Journal 124, no. 576 (2014): 480–506.

On 1 September 2011 the BBC reported that official Ministry of Justice figures showed that of the 1,566 people that had appeared before magistrates on charges connected with the disorder, 1,027 had been in London, 190 in Greater Manchester, 132 in the West Midlands, 67 in Merseyside and 64 in Nottingham.{{cite news |title=England riots: Court appearance total rises above 1,500 |date=1 September 2011 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14746229 |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901172026/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14746229 |archive-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=live }}

Sentences of four years in a Young Offender Institution were given to two males who promoted riots via Facebook. The proposed events in Northwich and Warrington were not attended by any other people.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/16/facebook-riot-calls-men-jailed|title=Facebook riot calls earn men four-year jail terms amid sentencing outcry|work=The Guardian|date=16 August 2011|access-date=17 August 2011|author=Bowcott, Owen|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203024912/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/16/facebook-riot-calls-men-jailed|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/four-years-jail-for-facebook-post-that-incited-no-one-20110817-1ix4h.html|title=Four years' jail for Facebook post that incited no one|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 August 2011|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925013010/http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/four-years-jail-for-facebook-post-that-incited-no-one-20110817-1ix4h.html|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}} These sentences were affirmed on appeal by the Court of Appeal.

Giving the judgment of the court, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Judge, sitting with Sir John Thomas and Lord Justice Leveson, stated that there is "an overwhelming obligation on sentencing courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public", that "the imposition of severe sentences, intended to provide both punishment and deterrence, must follow" and that "[t]hose who deliberately participate in disturbances of this magnitude, causing injury and damage and fear to even the most stout-hearted of citizens, and who individually commit further crimes during the course of the riots are committing aggravated crimes". The appeals were dismissed.Blackshaw, R. v (Rev 1) [http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2011/2312.html [2011] EWCA Crim 2312] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222725/http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2011/2312.html |date=23 September 2015 }}, 18 October 2011.

On 25 April 2012, the Court of Appeal (Lord Judge CJ, Openshaw & Irwin JJ) increased the sentence imposed by the Inner London Crown Court on Adam Ahmadzai from four years detention to seven years detention for offences of violent disorder, robbery, burglary and criminal damage committed during the riots on 8 August 2011, following a reference from Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC.BBC News, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17844425 "London riots: Croydon rioter's jail term extended"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205339/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17844425 |date=7 October 2018 }}, BBC News, (25 April 2012) The Lord Chief Justice stated that the offences were of the "greatest possible seriousness".J. Colley, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/croydon-riot-ringleader-adam-khan-ahmadzais-sentence-increased-7678680.html "Croydon riot ringleader Adam Khan Ahmadzai's sentence increased"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620114718/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/croydon-riot-ringleader-adam-khan-ahmadzais-sentence-increased-7678680.html |date=20 June 2017 }}, The Independent, 25 April 2012.

A woman who had not taken part in the riots received five months for receiving a pair of stolen shorts. The sentence was later reduced on appeal.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14589259 |title=Riots: Ursula Nevin freed after handling stolen shorts |work=BBC News |date=19 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824204700/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14589259 |archive-date=24 August 2011 |url-status=live }} Greater Manchester Police used Twitter to celebrate the five-month sentence; they later apologised and removed the tweet.{{cite news |first=David |last=Batty |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/13/manchester-police-sorry-looter-sentence |title=Manchester police say sorry over tweet on woman who accepted looted clothes |work=The Guardian |date=13 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003094929/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/13/manchester-police-sorry-looter-sentence |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live }} A teenager was freed when prosecutors found evidence he had been wrongly charged with arson.

While in prison, his own flat was burned down.{{cite web |first=Neal |last=Keeling |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1456384_police-got-the-wrong-man-salford-teen-charged-with-miss-selfridge-arson-during-manchester-riots-is-cleared |title=Police got the wrong man: Salford teen charged with Miss Selfridge arson during Manchester riots is cleared |work=Manchester Evening News |date=20 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111121803/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1456384_police-got-the-wrong-man-salford-teen-charged-with-miss-selfridge-arson-during-manchester-riots-is-cleared |archive-date=11 November 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/08/16/gm-police-publish-home-address-of-suspect-his-house-gets-burned-down/ |title=GM Police publish details of riot suspect: His flat gets burnt down |work=Liberal Conspiracy |editor-first=Sunny |editor-last=Hundal |access-date=20 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111310/http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/08/16/gm-police-publish-home-address-of-suspect-his-house-gets-burned-down/ |archive-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=live }} The detaining of under-18s without criminal records was criticised by UNICEF in October 2011 for possibly breaching the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/oct/09/unicef-britain-riots-children-jailed |title=Unicef criticises Britain for jailing children over riots |work=The Guardian |date=9 October 2011 |access-date=13 October 2011 |last=Malik |first=Shiv |location=London |quote=The UN children's fund said official figures showing that 45% of all under 18s detained on charges of rioting and looting had no previous criminal history were "very worrying", and represented a possible breach of the 1989 UN convention on the rights of a child. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001040005/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/oct/09/unicef-britain-riots-children-jailed |archive-date=1 October 2013 |url-status=live }} By August 2012, 1,292 rioters had been handed custodial sentences totalling 1,800 years at 16.8 months on an average.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3735373.ece |title=London rioters given jail terms totalling 1,800 years |date=7 August 2012 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |first=Hasan |last=Suroor |access-date=7 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808003347/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3735373.ece |archive-date=8 August 2012 |url-status=live }}

The Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn presented a piece of new writing, The Riots by Gillian Slovo, which looked into the events over those days in August and the thoughts and opinions of a range of people directly involved and politicians. It transferred to the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, about 400 metres from where the Mark Duggan protest took place, on 5 January 2012, and was due to run until 15 January. The piece included community leaders Stafford Scott and Martin Sylvester Brown, police constables on duty that night and a former resident of the Carpet-Right building, the burned remains now providing a reminder of the events.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} They were combined with the views of Diane Abbott, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Gove and Pastor Nims Obunge. It was received well by all critics,{{who|date=September 2021}} with 4 stars from The Guardian.Michael Billington, [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/nov/23/the-riots-tricycle-review "The Riots – review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312072545/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/nov/23/the-riots-tricycle-review |date=12 March 2017 }}. The Guardian, 23 November 2011.

Australian mod rock band the Feldons referenced the riots in their song "London Town" from their 2012 album Goody Hallett and Other Stories.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

{{Update section|date=June 2021}}

The causes of the 2011 England riots both immediate and long-term have been the subject of media and academic debate. Several speculations have emerged as to what the likely contributory factors might be for the riots; from socio-economic causes focusing on unemployment and spending cuts, as well as social media, gang culture and criminal opportunism. The House of Commons Home Affairs select committee began examining the police response to the riots in late 2011. The then leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, called for a public inquiry into the wider causes of the riots and has stated that his party would set up such an inquiry if the coalition fails to do so.{{cite news|author1=Patrick Wintour |author2=James Meikle|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/12/ed-miliband-links-riots-scandals|title=Ed Miliband promises riots inquiry|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=15 August 2011|date=12 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151003112508/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/12/ed-miliband-links-riots-scandals|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status= live}}

A wide-ranging LSE study called Reading the Riots concluded that the major contributory factors were opportunism, perceived social injustice, deprivation, and frustration at the way communities were policed.{{cite news|title=Introducing phase two of Reading the Riots: police, victims and the courts |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/01/introducing-phase-two-reading-riots|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 July 2012|location=London|first1=Paul|last1=Lewis|first2=Tim|last2= Newburn|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170407091408/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/01/introducing-phase-two-reading-riots|archive-date=7 April 2017|url-status=live}}

A YouGov poll was carried out on 8–9 August 2011 for The Sun asking what those surveyed believed to be the main cause of the riots.{{cite web|url= http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/yg-archives-pol-sun-riots-100811.pdf|title=YouGov/The Sun Survey Results|date=9 August 2011|work=today.yougov.co.uk|access-date=12 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110811031843/http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/yg-archives-pol-sun-riots-100811.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2011}} In it, 42% of those polled thought "criminal behaviour" to be the main cause, whilst 26% thought "gang culture" was, 8% thought "government cuts" were, 5% thought "unemployment" was, 5% thought "racial tensions" was and 3% thought "poor policing" was. In a ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Independent on Sunday, in which the question was "do you agree or disagree with these statements about the recent riots?", 90% of those polled agreed that the "Police should be allowed {{sic|use|reason="to use water cannon" would be expected}} to water cannon to disperse rioters", 90% agreed that "There is no excuse whatsoever for the violent rioting and looting over the last few days", 61% agreed that "Government ministers failed to return to their desks quickly enough from holidays" and 50% agreed that "The Government's response to the economic crisis (e.g. cuts to services, unemployment, reduced education funding) is helping fuel the rioters".{{cite web|url= http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/Ios_SM_LondonRiots_12thAugust11.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121017193956/http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/Ios_SM_LondonRiots_12thAugust11.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2012 |title=London Riots Survey |publisher=ComRes |access-date=29 August 2011 }}

Researchers who study the causes of political instability suggest that the critical common factor is the density of youths. A nation's extent of political unrest, i.e. its vulnerability to riot, war or regime change, is directly associated with the percentage of 15- to 24-year-olds in its population.

They argue that communities with more than 20% of individuals in this age group run the greatest risk of more frequent and more intense political instability. They describe the phenomena as the "youth bulge theory", where the "bulge" refers to the fattening of the population pyramid just before the base of the youngest age groups.{{cite web |url= http://www.significancemagazine.org/details/webexclusive/1315481/On-riots-and-youth-bulges.html |title= On riots and youth bulges |work=Significance Magazine |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130415203106/http://www.significancemagazine.org/details/webexclusive/1315481/On-riots-and-youth-bulges.html |archive-date=15 April 2013}}

The riots in Tottenham after the death of Mark Duggan were initially blamed on poor relations between the police and the black community.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first= Peter|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436529|title=London riots: Tensions behind unrest revealed|publisher=BBC|date=7 August 2011|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809203638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436529|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status= live}}{{cite news|title=Over 1,000 Arrested in U.K. as Anger over Inequality, Racism Boils Over into Insurrection |date=10 August 2011|first=Richard|last= Seymour |publisher=Democracy now|url= http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110816235134/http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk |archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=live}} Professor Gus John has argued that the tactical use of frequent "stop and search", particularly of young black men, has caused resentment of the police in the black community.{{cite web|url= https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gZ67UWu3mGjnb3TfN-jVwN77VevQ?docId=CNG.1dbda76336400d092358c2558c36e01d.4e1 |author=Guy Jackson|title= Depraved or deprived? UK split on riot causes |date= 12 August 2011|publisher=AFP |access-date=15 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140218235139/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gZ67UWu3mGjnb3TfN-jVwN77VevQ?docId=CNG.1dbda76336400d092358c2558c36e01d.4e1 |archive-date=18 February 2014 }}

According to David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, the "cracks that already existed between the police and the community became deep fissures".{{cite news|title=UK riots: political classes see what they want to see|first=Aditya|last=Chakrabortty|date=10 August 2011|access-date=12 August 2011|work=The Guardian|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/uk-riots-political-classes|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115021625/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/10/uk-riots-political-classes|archive-date=15 November 2014|url-status=live}}

The Guardian{{'s}} Reading the Riots Survey concluded: "Although rioters expressed a mix of opinions about the disorder, many of those involved said they felt like they were participating in explicitly anti-police riots. They cited "policing" as the most significant cause of the riots, and anger over the police shooting of Mark Duggan, which triggered initial disturbances in Tottenham, was repeatedly mentioned – even outside London."{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/05/anger-police-fuelled-riots-study | location=London | work=The Guardian | first1=Paul | last1=Lewis | first2=Tim | last2=Newburn | first3=Matthew | last3=Taylor | first4=James | last4=Ball | title=Rioters say anger with police fuelled summer unrest | date=5 December 2011 | access-date=10 December 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161119055237/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/05/anger-police-fuelled-riots-study | archive-date=19 November 2016 | url-status=live }}

Rioters themselves cited exclusion as a reason for their actions. One person, asked by a journalist if rioting was really the best way to accomplish their objectives, responded: "Yes, because if we weren't rioting, you wouldn't be talking to us."Richard Seymour, Darcus Howe, and Amy Goodman, [http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk "Over 1,000 Arrested in U.K. as Anger over Inequality, Racism Boils Over into 'Insurrection'"] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110816235134/http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/10/over_1_000_arrested_in_uk |date=16 August 2011}}, Democracy Now!, 10 August 2011.

Camila Batmanghelidjh writing in The Independent blames social exclusion and social deprivation.{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/camila-batmanghelidjh-caring-costs-ndash-but-so-do-riots-2333991.html|title=Camila Batmanghelidjh: Caring costs – but so do riots – Commentators, Opinion|work=The Independent|location= UK|date=9 August 2011|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110817181332/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/camila-batmanghelidjh-caring-costs-ndash-but-so-do-riots-2333991.html|archive-date=17 August 2011|url-status=live}} Various journalists have identified poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor as causative factors.{{Cite news|last=Topping|first=Alexandra|title=Looting 'fuelled by social exclusion'|work=The Guardian|date=8 August 2011|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/looting-fuelled-by-social-exclusion|location=London|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202002534/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/08/looting-fuelled-by-social-exclusion|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status= live}}{{Cite news|last=Ross|first=Monique |title=Blame for riots turns to UK social system|publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 August 2011|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-10/society-role-in-london-riots/2833168 |access-date=10 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110814164618/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-10/society-role-in-london-riots/2833168 |archive-date=14 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=English riots: The return of the underclass|date=11 August 2011|first=Mark|last=Easton|work= BBC News|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14488486 |access-date= 11 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811180756/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14488486|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}}

In a House of Commons debate on the riots Home Secretary Theresa May stated that the riots were symptomatic of a "wider malaise" including worklessness, illiteracy, and drug abuse but also stated that "Everybody, no matter what their background or circumstances, has the freedom to choose between right and wrong".{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9560000/9560113.stm|title= Democracy Live – In full: MPss debate England riots|work=BBC News|date=11 August 2011|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811202932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9560000/9560113.stm|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}} Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, writing in The Observer, stated that the riots were not caused by a broken society, but due to a group of young, alienated, disaffected youth who are outside the social mainstream and who live in a culture at odds with any canons of proper behaviour; he added that this is found in virtually every developed nation.{{cite news|last=Blair|first=Tony|title=Riots Not Caused By Broken Society|url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/20/tony-blair-riots-crime-family|access-date=21 August 2011|location=London|work=The Guardian|date=20 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150527092624/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/20/tony-blair-riots-crime-family|archive-date=27 May 2015|url-status=live}}

An article from the IWCA dubbed the riots as "the lumpen rebellion" and example of a neo-liberal riot.{{cite web|url=http://www.iwca.info/?p=10184|title=The lumpen rebellion |date=31 August 2011|work=IWCA|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190810201216/http://www.iwca.info/?p=10184|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}

Max Hastings of the Daily Mail was quoted as blaming young people with an "entitlement culture" and being "bereft of discipline".{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/14/riots-courts-justice-metropolitan-police|title=England riots: justice grinds on as courts sit through the night|author=Tim Adams|date=14 August 2011|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151004135702/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/14/riots-courts-justice-metropolitan-police|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=live}}

A journalist on Al Jazeera suggested a similarity to the disenfranchisement behind the Arab Spring revolutionary wave of 2011. Links were made to high youth unemployment and general disenfranchisement.{{cite news | url= http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/08/2011811122931660627.html | title=From the Arab Spring to Liverpool? | work=Aljazeera | date=11 August 2011 | access-date=20 August 2011 | last=Ryan | first=Yasmin | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110817105719/http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/08/2011811122931660627.html | archive-date=17 August 2011 | url-status=live }} A study by The Financial Times published in September 2011 found a strong link between rioting and deprivation.{{cite web|url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/236110aa-d716-11e0-bc73-00144feabdc0.html |title= Rioting link to deprivation revealed |work= Financial Times|author1= Sally Gainsbury |author2= Natasha Culzac|date= 4 September 2011|access-date= 5 September 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927090222/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/236110aa-d716-11e0-bc73-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date= 27 September 2011|url-status= live}}{{registration required}}

Christina Odone writing in The Daily Telegraph links the riots to a lack of male role models and argues that "Like the overwhelming majority of youth offenders behind bars, these gang members have one thing in common: no father at home."{{cite news|last=Odone|first=Cristina |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100100154/london-riots-absent-fathers-have-a-lot-to-answer-for|title=London riots: Absent fathers have a lot to answer for|work= The Daily Telegraph|date=9 August 2011|access-date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184011/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100100154/london-riots-absent-fathers-have-a-lot-to-answer-for/ |archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} This has been linked further with England's having the "worst record in family breakdown in Europe".{{cite news|title= Rioters Are Not 'Scum'! They Are The Fatherless|url= http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/life/Rioters_Are_NOT_Scum_They_Are_The_Fatherless/44210/p1|date=10 August 2011|access-date=16 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110921034339/http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/life/Rioters_Are_NOT_Scum_They_Are_The_Fatherless/44210/p1/|archive-date=21 September 2011|url-status=live}}

The spending cuts of the coalition government in the United Kingdom have also been cited as a cause.{{cite news|url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-disorder-idUKTRE7752QX20110808 |title=Riots spread on third night of violence|last1=Hemming|first1=Jon|last2=Ambrogi|first2= Stefano |date=8 August 2011|work=Reuters|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110827001213/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/08/08/uk-britain-disorder-idUKTRE7752QX20110808 |archive-date=27 August 2011|url-status= dead}}{{cite news|last=Croft |first= Adrian |title=Spending cuts, police blamed for London riot |page=B4 |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date=8 August 2011}}{{cite web|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna44055812|title=More than 200 thugs arrested in London riots|work=NBC News|date=8 August 2011 }}{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riot-broadwater-farm|author=David Lammy|title= Tottenham riot: The lesson of Broadwater Farm|date=7 August 2011|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=8 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143501/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/07/tottenham-riot-broadwater-farm|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Somaiya|first=Ravi|title=London Sees Twin Perils Converging to Fuel Riot|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/world/europe/08britain.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 August 2011|access-date=26 February 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170622153857/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/world/europe/08britain.html |archive-date=22 June 2017|url-status=live}} Ken Livingstone, the Labour Candidate for Mayor of London in 2012 has argued that "The economic stagnation and cuts being imposed by the Tory government inevitably create social division."{{cite web|url= http://www.labourlist.org/ken-livingstone-statement-on-tottenham-riots|title=Ken Livingstone statement on Tottenham riots|publisher=LabourList.org|date=7 August 2011|access-date=15 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120328123039/http://labourlist.org/2011/08/ken-livingstone-statement-on-tottenham-riots/ |archive-date=28 March 2012}} Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats political party, made it clear that the government's planned cuts to police budgets will go ahead.{{cite news|author=James Meikle|url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/11/nick-clegg-police-funding-cuts-riots|title=Nick Clegg: police funding cuts will not change despite riots|work=The Guardian|location=UK|access-date=15 August 2011|date=11 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003095852/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/aug/11/nick-clegg-police-funding-cuts-riots|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status=live}}

The local government budget had been cut in the past year so Haringey Council, which includes Tottenham and Tottenham Hale, decided to close eight of its 13 youth clubs in 2011, rather than save money through increased efficiency or make cuts in other areas.{{cite news |url= http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/rolling-back-the-state-only-fans-the-flames-16037110.html |title= Rolling back the state only fans the flames |work=The Belfast Telegraph |access-date=24 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110821050146/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/rolling-back-the-state-only-fans-the-flames-16037110.html |archive-date=21 August 2011 |url-status= live}}[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/13/hackney-riots-youth-clubs-closure?intcmp=239 "Hackney riots: 'The message when youth clubs close is that no one cares'"] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170407085641/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/13/hackney-riots-youth-clubs-closure?intcmp=239 |date=7 April 2017 }}, The Observer. Retrieved 17 August 2011.

Scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance, removing of funding for courses where the student already has an equal or lower level qualification and trebling of university tuition fees, combined with high youth unemployment has placed the British youth "between a rock and a hard place" alienating and angering the youth population.{{Cite news|title=Young people have no right to riot, but they have a right to be angry|last=Lloyd|first= Saci|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/18/riot-young-people-a-level-school|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 August 2011|access-date=20 August 2011|location= London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151003170730/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/18/riot-young-people-a-level-school|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status = live}} Proponents of this argument say that Scottish youth did not riot partly because Scottish students do not have to pay tuition fees.{{Cite news|title=A society that is slipping into Dickensian darkness|last= Macwhirter|first=Iain |url= http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/comment/iain-macwhirter/a-society-that-is-slipping-into-dickensian-darkness-1.1118346 |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=18 August 2011|access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130930190349/http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/a-society-that-is-slipping-into-dickensian-darkness.14772416 |archive-date=30 September 2013}}

David Lammy MP has said that Tottenham has the highest unemployment rate in London and the eighth highest in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|author=David Lammy|title= Response to the Comprehensive Spending Review|access-date=25 February 2011|url= http://www.davidlammy.co.uk/Respond_to_the_Comprehensive_Spending_Review|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725225202/http://www.davidlammy.co.uk/Respond_to_the_Comprehensive_Spending_Review|archive-date=25 July 2011}} The number of people chasing every one job vacancy in Haringey has been put at 23 and 54 in separate reports, and fears had spread of disorder after youth club closures in recent months.{{cite web|first= Alex|last=Goy|title=The toughest places to get a job in the UK: 6. Haringey|access-date=12 August 2011|date=26 June 2011 |url= http://money.uk.msn.com/news/uk-economy/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=158344853&page=10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901170244/http://money.uk.msn.com/news/uk-economy/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=158344853&page=10|archive-date=1 September 2011|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|author1=Alexandra Topping|author2=Cameron Robertson|url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2011/jul/31/haringey-youth-club-closures-video|title=Haringey youth club closures: 'There'll be riots' (video)|work=The Guardian |date=31 July 2011|access-date=12 August 2011|location= London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130912122610/http://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2011/jul/31/haringey-youth-club-closures-video|archive-date=12 September 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Hannah Richardson|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11607329|title=Youth service cuts 'could lead to social unrest'|work=BBC News|date=22 October 2010|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120311184746/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11607329|archive-date=11 March 2012|url-status=live}} One report about a citizen's inquiry conducted in the aftermath of the violence noted that in Tottenham there were about 10,000 unemployed residents and only 367 job vacancies when the riots broke.{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/05/tottenham-citizens-inquiry-toxic-relations-police | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Paul | last=Lewis | title=Joblessness and "toxic relations" with police are blamed for Tottenham riot | date=5 February 2012 | access-date=3 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004123502/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/05/tottenham-citizens-inquiry-toxic-relations-police | archive-date=4 October 2015 | url-status=live }}

Haringey has the fourth highest level of child poverty in London and 8.8% unemployed.{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/08/context-london-riots | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Nina | last=Power | title=There is a context to London's riots that can't be ignored | date=8 August 2011 | access-date=10 December 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170203013335/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/aug/08/context-london-riots | archive-date=3 February 2017 | url-status=live }}

Other academics have pointed to more prosaic causes of the 2011 riots, citing the carnivalesque atmospheres created through the usual uses of urban space. For example, researchers from the University of Birmingham noted that 'another sound could be heard above the mêlée, that of laughter. Above the bark of police dogs, and behind the masked and hooded faces of the throng, were smiles, laughter, and shrieks of joy.'[http://www.tandfonline.com.ezproxyd.bham.ac.uk/doi/abs/10.1080/09627251.2012.670998 "Panic on the streets of Birmingham? Struggles over space and belonging in the Revanchist City"], in Justice Matters, Vol. 87, No. 1 (2012).

In a Newsnight discussion on 12 August, historian David Starkey blamed black gangster culture, saying that it had influenced youths of all races. The BBC received nearly 700 complaints about his statement that the "whites have become black".{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14542240 | work= BBC News | title=Hundreds complain about David Starkey's race comments | date=16 August 2011 | access-date= 20 June 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181123211523/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14542240 | archive-date=23 November 2018 | url-status=live }} Cottrell-Boyce, writing in the Youth Justice journal, argued that gangs were constructed as a "suitable enemy" by politicians and the media, obscuring the wider, structural and economic roots of youth violence.{{cite journal|last=Cottrell-Boyce|first=Joseph|title=Ending Gang and Youth Violence: A Critique|journal= Youth Justice|date=December 2013|volume=13|issue=3|pages=193–206|doi= 10.1177/1473225413505382|s2cid=147163053}}

During the riots, on 9 August 2011, UK Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I think this is about sheer criminality. That is what we have seen on the streets. The violence we've seen, the looting we've seen, the thuggery we've seen – this is sheer criminality, and let's make no bones about it."{{cite news|title=Rioting spirals out of control |date=8 August 2011 |work=London Evening Standard |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976590-rioting-spirals-out-of-control.do |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120604014910/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23976590-rioting-spirals-out-of-control.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2012}} Paul Hobbs, London correspondent for One News said that looters are not politically motivated and called the riots "recreational violence".{{cite web|title=UK riots: 16,000 police on London streets|url= http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/london-riots-military-could-brought-in-4343698|date=9 August 2011|work=TVNZ|access-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811182640/http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/london-riots-military-could-brought-in-4343698 |archive-date=11 August 2011}} A Manchester rioter said to a BBC correspondent: "Every time I go into town I just think how the shops got smashed up in 2011 by all of us, I just laugh about it every time I go back in now."{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9572763.stm |title= Rioters revel in thrill of seizing Manchester streets|publisher=BBC News | work = Newsnight |access-date=20 April 2015}}

The BBC reported that the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police had stated that he thought that the motivation for rioters targeting the city centre was not anger, but greed.{{cite news |title=How rioting spread around England |work=BBC News |date=9 August 2011 |url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14466477 |access-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110810053922/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14466477 |archive-date=10 August 2011 |url-status=live }}

Daily Telegraph columnist Peter Oborne suggested that moral decay is just as bad at the top of society as it is at the bottom, with the rich and powerful generating anger among the British population. He cited the MPs' expenses scandal, bankers' bonuses, and the phone hacking scandal as setting poor examples.{{Cite news |title=The moral decay of our society is as bad at the top as the bottom |last=Oborne |first=Peter |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100100708/the-moral-decay-of-our-society-is-as-bad-at-the-top-as-the-bottom |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=20 August 2011 |location=London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160325141128/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100100708/the-moral-decay-of-our-society-is-as-bad-at-the-top-as-the-bottom/ |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} In The Financial Times cartoonist Ingram Pinn depicted a Union Flag being broken through by a looter in a hoodie carrying a stolen box of Adidas trainers, preceded by two men in suits carrying piles of cash, one saying "MP's Expenses" and another "Banker's Bonus".[http://domesticempire.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/broken-britain-riots/ "Broken Britain Riots"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023004350/http://domesticempire.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/broken-britain-riots/ |date=23 October 2013 }}, 16 August 2011.

Kenneth Clarke, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, writing in The Guardian, described the riots in part as "an outburst of outrageous behaviour by the criminal classes". He drew attention to the statistic that almost three-quarters of the adults who had been charged with offences related to the disorder already had a criminal record. Clarke characterised this as the legacy of "a broken penal system", one that did not have a good record for preventing reoffending. He said he was proposing radical new measures intended to focus on robust punishment and on delivering reductions in reoffending.{{cite news |title=Punish the feral rioters, but address our social deficit too |author=Kenneth Clarke |date=5 September 2011 |work=The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/05/punishment-rioters-help |access-date=6 September 2011 |location=London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131206175102/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/05/punishment-rioters-help |archive-date=6 December 2013 |url-status=live }}

A conference held in November 2012 and its subsequent report by Dr Leah Bassel of the University of Leicester, entitled Media and the Riots – A Call For Action, examined the relationship between mainstream media and communities affected by the riots. It criticised the portrayal of young people in the media coverage, particularly young black people who were disproportionately singled out as being involved. It also criticised the press in spreading misinformation from unreliable sources and in particular disinformation emanating from the police.Roy Greenslade, [https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2012/jul/31/london-riots-universityofleicester "What the media did wrong in the riots – and how to put it right"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407090956/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2012/jul/31/london-riots-universityofleicester |date=7 April 2017}}, Greenslade Blog, The Guardian, 31 July 2012.Marc Wadsworth, [http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/media-coverage-2011-riots-was-disgraceful "Media Coverage Of 2011 Riots 'Was Disgraceful'"] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121021073034/http://voice-online.co.uk/article/media-coverage-2011-riots-was-disgraceful |date=21 October 2012 }}, The Voice, 10 June 2012.[http://www.the-latest.com/riots-and-media-report "Special report about media and the riots"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402203648/http://www.the-latest.com/riots-and-media-report |date=2 April 2013}}, The Latest.

In the article Youth voices in post-English riots Tottenham: The role of reflexivity in negotiating negative representations, Elster explores the subjective accounts of a group of eighteen 15- to 25-year-olds from Tottenham.{{Cite journal|last=Elster|first= Julius|date=31 March 2020|title=Youth voices in post-English riots Tottenham: The role of reflexivity in negotiating negative representations|journal=The Sociological Review|volume=68|issue=6 |pages=1386–402|doi= 10.1177/0038026120915706|s2cid=216285672|issn=0038-0261|url=http://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/5713/1/Youth%20voices%20in%20post-English%20riots%20Tottenham%20-%20final%20manuscript%20for%20The%20Sociological%20Review%20-%20Dr%20Julius%20Elster.pdf|access-date=2 June 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200507103917/http://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/5713/1/Youth%20voices%20in%20post-English%20riots%20Tottenham%20-%20final%20manuscript%20for%20The%20Sociological%20Review%20-%20Dr%20Julius%20Elster.pdf|archive-date=7 May 2020|url-status= live}} This study shows that the media portrayals of the communities associated with the riots were unrecognisable to those actually living in these communities. Its findings also indicate a consensus among the research participants, who were all from the "riot-hit areas", that the UK general public perceive them, and the wider communities in which they live, through media's "riot discourse".

{{Portal|England|Law}}

{{colbegin}}

• Broken Britain
• Crisis situations and unrest in Europe since 2000
• 2011 Northern Ireland riots
• 2016 riots in Sweden
• 2013–14 protests in Turkey
• 2013 Trappes riots
• 2013 Stockholm riots
• 2010 Rinkeby riots
• 2009 French riots
• 2008–2009 Oslo riots
• 2007 Villiers-le-Bel riots
• 2006 Brussels riots
• 2005 French riots
• 2001 England riots
• Ferguson unrest
• 1981 Brixton riot
• George Floyd protests
• 1992 Los Angeles riots
• 2024 United Kingdom riots

{{colend}}

{{Clear}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• Daniel Briggs. The English Riots of 2011: A Summer of Discontent. Waterside Press, 2012. {{ISBN|1-9043-8088-3}}.

{{Commons category}}

• [http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/10/201110127328637271.html Documentary on riots on Al Jazeera's People and Power]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436499 Timeline and map of violence from the BBC]
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8687177/London-riots-live.html Coverage at the Daily Telegraph]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/london-riots Coverage at the Guardian]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/aug/09/uk-riots-incident-listed-mapped Guardian dataset & map of verified incidents]
• [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/london-riots-spiral-out-of-control-2333748.html Coverage at the Independent]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111127054748/http://www.mayomo.com/99045-london-riots-cleanup Videos of the riot cleanup]
• [http://hesomagazine.com/featured/burning-questions-of-london-class-war-or-pure-criminality/ U.K. Citizen Isobel Wiles' Commentary from abroad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929130138/http://hesomagazine.com/featured/burning-questions-of-london-class-war-or-pure-criminality/ |date=29 September 2011 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120117102837/http://www.storyvault.com/video/view/the_tottenham_riots1 Tottenham MP David Lammy speaking on the aftermath of the riots]
• [http://souciant.com/2011/08/inglan-is-a-bitch-2/ The View from Hackney]
• [http://riotspanel.independent.gov.uk/ Official inquiry website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127050527/http://riotspanel.independent.gov.uk/ |date=27 January 2013 }}
• [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-14492789 David Cameron's full statement on the UK riots]

{{Riots in England}}

{{Boris Johnson}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:England riots, 2011}}

Category:2011 crimes in the United Kingdom

Category:2011 disasters in the United Kingdom

Riots

Category:2011 riots

Category:2010s crimes in London

Category:2010s fires in the United Kingdom

Category:2011 fires in Europe

Category:Arson in 2011

Category:Arson in England

Category:Arson in London

Category:Articles containing video clips

Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2011

Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in England

Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in London

Category:August 2011 crimes in Europe

Category:August 2011 in the United Kingdom

Category:Looting in England

2011

Category:Attacks on transport

Category:Boris Johnson

Category:Premiership of David Cameron

Category:Boris Johnson controversies

Category:Keir Starmer controversies