Summer riots: Theresa May speech

Summer riots: Theresa May speech; ENGLAND: London: LSE (London School of Economics): INT **BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** Theresa May MP (Home Secretary) along to podium and speech SOT - Last summer we saw scenes that were amongst the most disgraceful to occur on Britain's streets. Rioters rampaging through our cities. Louts looting local businesses. Thugs threatening the innocent. Buildings burning and shops smouldering. The riots shocked us all. And with such shocking events it is vitally important that we understand why they happened, that we address the causes and that we do all in our power to make sure they never happen again. We now have a growing body of evidence about the riots. The Independent Communities and Victims Panel has released its interim findings; the Metropolitan Police and the West Midlands Police have published reports; the Ministry of Justice has made available details of those who appeared before the courts; my own Department has published analysis of crimes committed and those arrested; and the National Centre for Social Research has studied the involvement of young people. The LSE/Guardian report adds to this evidence base. We now need to look at all the available evidence and to ensure we draw the proper conclusions. As rigorous social scientists, I am sure that the LSE authors of this report recognise that the rioters they interviewed might seek to make excuses for their actions. They would of course try to rationalise and excuse their inexcusable and irrational behaviour. Nearly two thirds of those brought before the courts were charged with either burglary, robbery or theft - so we know that the vast mass of rioters weren't protesting, as they claimed; they were thieving. There is another note of caution in the LSE report. Despite the fact that rioting occurred across the country, very few who were interviewed came from outside London - just 3 people from Nottingham, 7 from Salford - where some of the most violent rioting occurred ...