Judging by today’s YouGov polls, the riots have pushed crime sharply up the national
agenda: it now ranks second, behind only the economy. In all, almost half of Brits think crime is one of the top three issues facing the country, more than double the number who said so a fortnight
ago. The effect has, unsurprisingly, been strongest in London, where around two-in-three now see crime as a major concern:
As for the causes of the riots, the majority blame “criminal behaviour” and “gang culture”. Contrary to what Harriet Harman may insinuate, just eight per cent blame the government’s cuts, and this is largely the 16 per cent of Labour voters who put the blame at the Coalition’s door. A surprisingly small number think unemployment, racial tensions or poor policing are the main cause.
The majority rate the responses of the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Mayor of London as poor, although most of the polling was conducted before any of them had actually responded at all. The poll does show much more support for the police than the politicians:
Despite this, the vast majority of the public are very sceptical about the chances of rioters and looters being brought to justice. 85 per cent think the majority will get away with their crimes:
As the Sun reports this morning, there is widespread support for the police to be given extra powers, such as the use of water cannons, tear gas, tasers and curfews:
In addition, 77 per cent support using the army to help quash the violence. That’s probably because they don’t have much faith in the police’s ability to end it quickly: 44 per cent of people think that rioting will continue at least until the weekend. Whether that anxiety is quelled by tomorrow’s parliamentary debate, we shall see.
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