To the rioters/looters/kids at our back door last night...

[smokingboot]

If you had come to my front door, taken off your hoods and masks and shown your faces in the light of my porch, if you had knocked, and stood back so we could see you and your companions, all of you, so we could see you weren't a threat; and if you had said, 'We aren't here to hurt you or steal or set fire to the place, but my mate's broken his leg and he needs an ambulance.' We'd have phoned the ambulance for you. I might have come out, maybe checked that leg, maybe made you tea, or just made sure you weren't going into shock. We wouldn't demand loot off you to give you help, we wouldn't go through your rucksack to steal your stuff. Civilised people don't do that. The ambulance would arrive, the ambulance our taxes pay for would take you to treatment our taxes pay for. If your gang won the day the ambulance would never come because it doesn't exist if it isn't paid for, and we can't pay for it without tax that comes from business - the businesses you've been destroying. It's not a perfect system, we know there is corruption and greed that must be faced. But despite all that, the ambulance would come...if it could get through the streets your mates are tearing up.

But you didn't show your faces. You treated our property as though it was yours, trying to be action heroes, and because Die Hard isn't real life, one of you got badly hurt. You scrabbled at our back door like thieves. Perhaps you are thieves, I don't know. The good news is that the ambulance came and hopefully you'll be OK. The bad news for you is the police came with them. Gentlemen, you're nicked.

This is England.

Edited to add: We learn this morning that they were around 14/15 years old.

Comments

[maviscruet.livejournal.com]

Sounds unpleasent.....

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Ages: approximately 14/15. Children:-(

[irdm.livejournal.com]

Grown ups in many societies.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Well yes. I don't know what to make of them now. I think the term 'pointless screw-ups' is sufficiently lacking in non-pc terminology. It manages to be neither racist, classist, sexist nor ageist, and yet is entirely accurate.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

"Are you OK" is a completely empty question but I can't think of a better one right now. It comes with a free hug.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I'm OK, it's just weird. Makes me realise how much I love my friends.

*Very big hug indeed*

[evilwillow.livejournal.com]

Glad it wasn't worse honey, I was pretty worried after your facebook post last night

*squeezes*

Much love you and Russ

xx

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your concern and that squeeze! *hugs back*

For a while there, it was very strange, turning the lights off at the back, walking so quietly through the house, trying to work out whether I should carry a knife or not...the security at the back is really not very good. I am sorry I didn't get back last night, didn't mean to alarm, but it took us so long to get Dervish in. She was very spooked indeed, and then I just crashed out. We're OK now. You stay safe now Lady, with lots of love from me and Russ xxx

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Glad to hear you're ok, anyway. How long did it take for you to realise the eejit kid had broken his leg?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

There was some muttering about it outside our back door, one person was in some way hurt and wanted to just ask us for help, that person was dissuaded by other(s)who...well, I dunno, they might have had all sorts of reasons for being interested in our back door.

I can't be sure about how many were out there, because we don't have a light out the back right now, and our garden is heavily wooded and overgrown...in the dark, it was a perfect place to hide. By then larians had already dialed 999, and I believe he mentioned that one of them seemed to be injured. They seem to have been moving from garden to garden and down an alleyway between two houses. Two of them returned to our neighbour's garden where the police apprehended them. Don't know if or where any others went.

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

He was dissuaded from asking for help when he'd broken his leg? Dear God in Heaven! That's some peer pressure.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

We are clearly dealing with no ordinary stupidity/weakness of mind!

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

Idiotc children - lucky children, even though they didn't realise it and definitely won't feel it today.

I'm so sorry you had such an awful shock.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

It's so hard; these children are adult enough to destroy businesses, burn down homes, beat up people, steal. But when they need help, they are kids again, and they want the nursery school ideal...the belief that someone will help you if you are in trouble, that if you call for an ambulance, it'll turn up.

When it first happened and I peered from our windows into the dark wondering how many were out there, my man phoning the police while carrying a baseball bat, and me wondering whether stabbing someone with a kitchen knife would be illegal if I had to defend myself in the kitchen, I wasn't afraid. I was furious.

Now I am just very confused about it all.

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell. Glad you've come through it intact if not a little shaken.

I think your initial paragraph is an excellent summary of the futility of the looters'/rioters' behaviour.

Here's to peaceful nights for you henceforth.

*hug*

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

*big hug back* Thank you, dear Velvet. I have been silly and snappy all day, making daft mistakes and getting annoyed over nothing. I reckon those peaceful nights are needed xxx

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

Nicely put.

Needless to say, am glad all passed okay. I hope it remains quiet now (and that you get a security light at the back!).

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Re lights, my brother is now in a situation where he can do something about that. He has had all sorts of improvements in mind, but after the last few days, I am going to talk to him about prioritising security at the back of the house.

[croak108.livejournal.com]

Ouch scaryh. We have such scum azz rioters tHese dayes; in the 1980s, rioters smashshed banks & McDonald's , and left decent businesses & residents in peace. *hug*

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you Mr Froggy. Something in the tenor of these riots seems very different to the 80s. What changed? Was it us?

[croak108.livejournal.com]

Noe, it wasnt us. It be the interest behind the riots. In the 80s, ordynary ppl & soldiers wr pissed off at the robber baroness Thatcher (soldiers wr particular:ly effective rioters). THis time, the interest yz in the oppozyte direction. THis produceth a verye different kind of riot in different places, and the cops wr instructed tu let tHem get on wi it. Cameron & Clegg will be pleased.