Why looting in london

There were many criminal gangs who ensured a supply of women for the soldiers. The easy availability of prostitutes was a cause for concern for the US government and created some tension between the UK and the US. The US government was worried about the possibilities of GIs returning home and spreading sexually transmitted diseases they had contracted while in service in the UK.

Darkness and confusion due to blackouts and bombing raids created the perfect scenario for murders to take place. He was caught thanks to his fingerprints on a gas mask left behind at the scene of an attempted murder. Cummins had no previous history of crime or violence.

Buildings damaged by bombs provided the perfect place for a murderer to hide a body. It is likely that the death would be blamed on the air raid, and therefore would not arouse suspicion and require further investigation.

There were also new laws regarding work practices that made it not just a sackable, but a criminal offense to take time off work without permission in certain occupations. Compulsory work orders covered many of those involved in essential war work.

Being late for work too often or being unwilling to work could also land a person in court. It became illegal to go on strike in certain key occupations. However, this was not always easy to enforce. They refused to pay. Although they were threatened with jail, the threat was not carried out. The government realized it would have been impractical and self-defeating to imprison so many essential workers. Since then, the vandalism and looting that occurred seemed to have no real connection to the original protest.

Because the trouble spread across so many different areas, it was very difficult to work out why it was happening. Many politicians, officials and local residents condemned the violence, saying it was mindless criminality. Some said it was simply 'copycat violence' - greedy people who just want to make trouble and steal things. Others say factors like unemployment and not feeling part of society have played a role - though no one thinks that's any excuse for rioting.

While the rioting began in parts of London over the weekend, on Monday and Tuesday nights there was violence in other cities in England. Over people have been arrested in the West Midlands, after looting and violence in Birmingham city centre, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich. Bristol saw people setting fire to cars and damaging shops, while hundreds of people clashed with police in the south of Liverpool.

On Tuesday night the violence and vandalism spread to Manchester and Salford, while in Birmingham three men were killed after being run over by a car. But the capital London remains the city that was hit the worst - less than a year before it's due to host the Olympics. More police officers are out patrolling the streets. And we tend to imitate what is successful. If you see that people are walking out of a shop with a widescreen TV and trainers, a certain kind of person thinks why shouldn't I do that?

Workman argues that some of those taking part may adopt an ad hoc moral code in their minds - "these rich people have things I don't have so it's only right that I take it". But there's evidence to suggest that gang leaders tend to have psychopathic tendencies, he says. This idea of a mob mentality can be found in football hooliganism. Former Manchester United hooligan Tony O'Neill, says there is a similarity between this week's looting and the football violence he took part in for three decades.

It boils down to the buzz, he says. You can't take away that thrill - the roar of the crowd. That sense of a group of men, something's happening. For most, the motivation is the thrill, with the "free stuff" just a bonus.

But not for the ringleaders who manipulate the mob to target high-value shops. He recalls a rampage through Swiss Cottage in the s when Manchester United fans ended up looting a jewellery store. For law-abiding citizens setting fire to a bus or stealing from a shop is simply unthinkable.