Why has Cameron criticized the police ?
The apparent riot situation that they were presented with was without precedent. Multiple, fast-moving, groups of thugs, thieves, vandals and looters.
As has been reported these people were using mobile phones, social networking pages and other technology to organise themselves, to alert their peers to the deployment of the police.
Also, unlike previous riot situations seen in the UK, the perpetrators were not really interested in confronting the police. They were happy to create mayhem and then move on when the police appeared. The only confrontations occurred when either the police were out numbered or when the police managed to corral the criminals. For the most part the criminals were happy to hit and run.
Until they had sufficient numbers of officers to deploy the authorities were just firefighting. There were just too many instances of trouble for them to police adequately.
No wonder residents and business owners were asking where were the police and the fire brigade. While one neighbourhood burned another was being attended to, but not all.
Also, let us not forget that not all police officers were issued with riot gear.
I think that Cameron has dishonoured the police by some of his cheap shot comments.
It is time to wake up to the reality of the situation. Not enough officers on the field to address the multiple fronts that were presented. The senior officers were only able to deploy the officers that they had. Once the extra officers were made available then they were able to change their tactics.
Time to learn some valuable lessons.
These were not the student riots over tuition fees. These were not race riots. Despite what many of the interviewed rioters said this was not a riot against the government’s budget cuts.
This was pure opportunism which became organised thievery and vandalism.
WrAnTz 
Mr Cameron needs to think before he criticizes the Police. He needs to walk a mile in their shoes.
Since he came to office he has done nothing but whine.
He whinges that it is Labour’s fault we are in this mess.
Now it’s the Polices fault the riots were handled so badly.
He needs to stop and take some of the responsibility for the state of this country.
Does he really think that cutting the police force will be a good thing?
Does he also think that his criticism will help matters. Just sort it out Mr Cameron.
Yours, Nuala Wedge (Mrs)