Cameron may use army to tackle riots
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday announced further
measures to deal with the rioting spreading across the country, saying
would consider using the army to help calm down future riots.
"It is the government's responsibility to make sure that every future
contingency is looked at, including whether there are tasks that the
army could undertake that might free up more police for the front line,"
Cameron told lawmakers during an emergency Parliamentary session.
Addressing the Parliament recalled to debate the issue, he said the
rioters would pay for what they have done and the broken society would
be addressed.
The increased numbers of police on duty would continue throughout the
weekend, Cameron said.
Cameron also praised those who have cleaned up streets and patrolled
areas to keep them safe, saying that the government was "on your side."
The Prime Minister said that he would give police powers to force people
to remove facial coverings, such as scarves where there are reasonable
grounds to believe they are planning criminal activity.
In addition, Cameron said the government would meet the cost of any
legitimate compensation claims and a 10-million-pound recovery scheme
would be set up for councils to make areas safe and clean again.
Ahead of the London Olympics next year, Cameron said Britain would
show the world that it is fighting back and looking forward.
England experienced its first quiet night Wednesday after four
consecutive nights of rioting, first in London and then in cities in the
northwest, the midlands and the west. AFP |
