THE disturbances in Huddersfield on Tuesday night shocked many people.
Quite rightly people were appalled by the senseless vandalism, but what was behind the events? Was it symptomatic of a wider social breakdown or simply a seemingly good excuse to go out and try and steal a new TV?
The posters on www.examiner.co.uk have their own ideas.
HuddersFax_resident wrote: “Sad, sick and pure theft and vandalism; nothing more, nothing less.
“I hope all those who took part have had their own property damaged. I hope their livelihoods are destroyed and I hope they have lost money and valuables because that’s the only thing that will hurt them.
“If and when convicted they must be sentenced to community service and community payback and made to clean the streets and mess they and their ‘friends’ caused.
“They must be made to help those businesses affected.
“The old saying ‘if you’re big enough to do the crime, then be big enough to do the time’; what’s the betting they’ll be timid little mice when it comes to owning up?”
Magdale added: “I agree but don’t hold your breath for any serious punishment. The UK does not do punishment.”
SteveB said: “I was listening to BBC Radio Manchester this morning and they had interviews with a couple of 16-year-old looters, who were basically saying that the prisons are full, so what’s the worst that could happen? An ASBO, wow.
“Sadly I think he has a point – our justice system has no effective means to punish those responsible for disorder on this scale.”
M0nsieur_Gh0st had a theory: “This is just plain sad. I’m afraid some people are plain greedy and ruthless.
“They don’t have an iota of humanity in them. It doesn’t take an oxford graduate to analyse this situation. These people are not deprived but are greedy and ruthless low-lifes.
“No-one in this country is deprived if you can afford Blackberries to message each other and trainers worth £150.
For jaz it was simple: “Sheep. Baahhhhhh. They are not only an embarrassment to the town but also an embarrassment to themselves.”