Broken Britain

Jack Cade hath almost gotten London Bridge,

The citizens fly and forsake their houses,

The rascal people, thirsting after prey

Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear

To spoil the city...

Henry VI Part 2, IV.5.48-52.

[3rd Pleb] Your name sir, truly.

[Cinna] Truly, my name is Cinna.

[1st Pleb] Tear him to pieces! He's a conspirator.

[Cinna] I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

[4th Pleb] Tear him for his bad verses, Tear him for his bad verses.

[Cinna] I am not Cinna the conspirator.

[4th Pleb] It is no matter, his name's Cinna. Pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

[3rd Pleb] Tear him, tear him!

Julius Caesar, IV.1.25-34.

Among the riots, the arson, the theft and the violence of the 'protesters' came a vivid scene which, for the BBC newsroom especially, summed up the disturbing mind of the mob.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14456065

Daylight: with a rucksack on is back, a young man in Hackney was standing beside a pool of his own blood. He had a head injury, and needed assistance. A group of youths approached him and, at first, it appeared they would tend to his distress. Within a few moments, the camera revealed they were in fact going through the injured man's rucksack, ransacking him of his possessions. Thereafter, they stalked off and left him, bereft, injured and alone.

Injured men have become acceptable targets for looting.

Of the victims, I most mourn the people of Brixton. When I lived in Clapham I used to go through Brixton each day going to work. I saw how much effort has been put into regenerating an area which is proud, troubled and trying to put a difficult past behind it. They were getting there, only to have youths who have nothing to do with Brixton descend upon it like a flying squad and trash it all.