Public Disorder

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 11:35 am on 11 August 2011.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Tom Watson Tom Watson Labour, West Bromwich East 11:35, 11 August 2011

After the riot in West Bromwich, local traders told me that they feared the emergence of a new class of criminal consumer: BlackBerry-enabled, self-organised groups, whose new-found collectivism had diminished their fear of the police and increased their contempt for the law. Their clarion cry to the Prime Minister was: “Please reverse the planned reduction in police in the west midlands by 1,000 uniformed police officers.” [Interruption.] I am sorry he does not like to hear that. If he is going to give them the answer no, would he at least agree to keep the matter under review?