I don't think it was really burning and nicking stuff that makes people feel truly alive, but the rare experience of freedom to take control in a society where we have almost none. Of course a fist experience of that is usually a bursting out of agression, a smashed window, an 'i can't believe i'm able to do this!' moment. Once you taste that though, it's hard to re-confine yourself within state controls. Once your eyes are open to what it's like to live without leaders, you can expereince that'best day of your life' again and again, without burning everything down but in really taking full control and responsability for everything you do in your life. Everything you produce or consume, things you make and destroy. It's scary to be in control of your own life, that's why most people abdicate that responsability to state authorities, it's easier that way. But you'll never feel that amazing happiness that lies in complete autonomy.

There's no question some people did some extremely stupid, and in some cases vicious and evil things, during the riots, and that includes the cops; but the bottom line is that the authorities closed all the youth centres in Tottenham shortly beforehand, and were immediately warned there'd be riots in response, so we have to assume the authorities knew what they were doing and that they did this deliberately. The police then went to the one place where the riots were most extreme in the 1980s - Tottenham, and shot a young black petty criminal, just to MAKE SURE the riots kicked off proper (put it this way, tactically, they weren't going to shoot a local vicar were they). The police claimed Mark Duggan had fired at them, but ballistic tests showed a bullet they claimed he'd fired and which had lodged in a police constable's radio was in fact a POLICE bullet. So, friends and family marched to a police station to demand explanations, and were promptly attacked by the police..... hey presto, riots.

Then the police held back on steaming in for several days, to make sure the riots really took hold, and (without excusing any of the anti-social crimes that took place during the riots) to make sure the communities suffered as much damage as possible. Some pundits said that if the riots had been political, rather than purely criminal opportunism, then the rioters would have attacked police stations and public buildings, while in fact 5 police stations were targetted in Nottingham alone (the BBC said that "More than 90 people have been arrested following a night of riots in Nottingham in which five police stations were attacked. Stations in The Meadows, Bulwell and St Ann's were targeted, while Canning Circus station was set alight after fire bombs were thrown at the building").

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-14472172

I can't find any figures for how many people rioted over all, but The Daily Telegraph says that "data from Scotland Yard also emerged that appeared to show as many as 30,000 people were involved in looting, arson and criminal damage during rioting", just "in London", and if 3,000 people were jailed, that means, nationwide, alot more than 27,000 people got away scot-free, and NEXT time I don't think many people will be stupid enough not to cover their faces.

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8713808/Tony-Blair-attacks-muddle-headed-analysis-of-UK-riots.html

So, cops monitoring Indymedia, you KNOW the vast majority of offenders got clean away, the way to stop your people getting hurt next time is NOT to brutalise any more protestors and NOT to kill any more members of the public (even if they are petty criminals)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C45QKpGFy6w

"it was like call of duty!"

haha, yeah howcomes every rioter i've spoken to claimed they only looted shops of big brands, if that was the case, most of Oxford street should of been looted empty, and not a single family run bussiness touched!

We have not finished searching for those who took part in the riots and will not do so for many months to come. So if you think you have got away with commiting crime during the riots our message to you is that there is still a strong chance that you will be caught and arrested and put on trial for your crimes over the coming months.

We have not finished searching for those who have taken part in police brutality and will not do so for many years to come. So if you think you have got away with violently oppressing your fellow human beings our message to you is that there is still a strong chance that you will be caught and made accountable over the coming years :)

To everyone else: don't be panicked by police scare tactics. Fear is their biggest weapon.

to all those in the struggle... and a tribute to those killed in the hands of the police.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/RiotinlondonW1

...it was the best day of your life. For those who suffered because their homes was burnt or their livelihoods destroyed it was the worst. Glad you can look back with fond memories!

Destroying homes and livelihoods is our business. Get out of it. We do not want anyone to challenge us on what we do best. Violent crime is the monopoly of our cops. Damage and destruction deserve to be the results of our decisions only. Without a tie you are not entitled to do that. Get your satisfaction from turning against the weak. There is no money in your feelings.

Because obviously the person who said that and the persons who burned the homes were the same people? Or maybe all 30, 000+ all burny down homes?

Or maybe they weren't? Maybe you're just a reactionary sod who can't tell the difference?

The major hits were taken by chainstores and the businesses that leech of the poor.

Try reading the Guardian reports and understanding them.