David makes an interesting point. I believe but for the 'pre-emptive strike' of swift and hard justice following the riots, perhaps things may have turned out differently.
For once, our judiciary functioned as it should, as a Deterrent. These bastards have got away with it far too long because of Political Correctness and pinko judges so far removed from reality that it beggars belief. I say that from experience, as I regularly take refreshment with two gentlemen of the Silk (something that just doesn't happen anywhere else) and not only are they perfect gentlemen of huge intellect, but they are just plain naive. Both are in their '70's and live isolated marshmallow lives far from the harsh realities of modern life.
The problem is (in their own words)that they deliberately set out to not only uphold the law as they see it, but to right perceived wrongs in the criminal justice system, which is fine to a point, but it results in far too wishy washy and inconsistent sentencing, and many judgements thrown out or reduced sentencing on appeal.
What we saw post 'riot' is the swift firm and sure hand of the People's Justice at work, at the hand of Lay Magistrates, who unbelievably have now been seriously criticised by the head of the UK Prison Service for a "feeding frenzy of Justice". Lay Magistrates are everyday unpaid citizens who mostly have a lot of experience in everyday life.
Why doesn't he just go and clean up the shite in his own back yard, confiscate the drugs and mobile phones, take away the TV sets and 'counselling' services and punish the offender properly?
So, here we've got a double headed termite nibbling away at the roots of crime & punishment undermining the cornerstone of democracy. No wonder there is no Fear of the Law anymore in the UK.
I haven't used the word 'Liberal' anywhere in this post so no-one has anything to fight over, and I didn't form anybody elses opinion other than my own, which is mine by birthright, although as a 'subject' I have no rights, only what I fight for.
So, bollocks to everyone who disagrees in advance
PS You have a point Mr Domtoni, but there are enough 'proper' laws to cover every eventuality in the UK. Citizens have been extremely critical of the Police for very good reasons. Not the average Bobby, but the bloody Chief Constables who make the policy.