Criminologist explains motivations behind UK riots

10 Aug 2011, 6:28 pm   -   Source: SBS staff
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Dr Rick Brown, an expert at the Australian institute of Criminology, speaks to SBS News about the UK riots and the young people behind them.

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Dr Rick Brown, a criminologist at the Australian institute of Criminology, speaks to SBS News about the UK riots and the young people behind them.

Dr Brown tells Janice Petersen about how police handled the situation, how these young groups are mobilising, whether the riots are a result of genuine disenfranchment with society or just opportunistic thugs taking advantage of a chaotic situation.

Dr Brown also speaks on the problems of high unemployment, the UK’s poor economic situation and the widening social divide and where to from here for the country.

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Your Comments

Due to finanical injustices

Bjorn - from Galicia, 10 months ago

Whilst there's no doubt that the looting taking place is opportunistic, it's important to look at why something like this has happened. I have no doubt that if there wasn't so much imbalance and inequality in the current economic model, we wouldn't be having these problems. Banks taking bailouts and continuing to pay bonuses despite abysmal performance. Mortgage lenders lending money and betting against it being paid back. Then mere mortals foot the bill with gov spending cuts and unemployment.

Thugs and justice

Navman - from Melb, 10 months ago

Think this is nothing more then opportunistic looting on account of a normal protest that turned into hell for some parts of Uk . The youth of today are a lot more of the true consumers - the generation for buying and seen in designer goods. A mob broke into the store young thugs thought of their dream sneakers, smart mobiles and LCDs - on it went. How quick - blame it on smart phones social media and bad policing.

"back to the future"

James - from Nowra, 10 months ago

Any attempt to lend any perceived rationale or validity to wanton bastardry and vandalism is part of the problem in today's politically correct and obviously innefectual western legal system. Perhaps the English should go "back to the future" and start dealing out some rough justice. The all carrot and no stick aproach is obviously not working.

Mr

Michael petersen - from Herberton, 10 months ago

I agree it is the social divide that causes this , in a world that leaves nothing for people that are not greedy. We need to build a more balanced society were the understanding of how and why are promoted not greed

Mr

Chris Clerici - from Croydon North 3136, 10 months ago

I was outraged by the SBS so called expert. He said that the rioters were protesters. They are not. They are mindless young thugs that have no other agenda than to pillage loot and terrorise the community. They have no respect for law and order or the communities they exist in. They are not poor or disenfranchised, Stop making excuses for them because you are condoning this behaviour and being disrespectful to the people who are victims of this mindless behaviour.

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