The Rioting - a few thoughts

 Having mulled this other I thought I would just add my 6d at this point.

This rioting following the deaths of three children, serious injuries to others including two adult helpers at Holiday Club in Southport, Lancs has been some of the most worrying in recent years even if for extent and total damage they are not as extensive as say the '81 Summer Riots, The "Poll Tax" riots of 1990 or the disturbances in 2011.

While I hold that there is no excuse for criminal damage, assault and murder, we know from our country's history that sometimes there reaches a point where Civil Society says "enough" and this can spill over, the thing here was there was no connection what so ever with what those people were gathered for, burning buildings, looting and assaulting people...for just being of a different ethnicity and religion.

The person responsible for what happened in Southport as tragic as it is was neither a Immigrant nor a Muslim, a person British born of Christian parents. Little different than me actually.

Some who were around the disturbances did have concerns around overall migration such as the impact on host communities and I will say as a West Midlander, I know that is shared at least in part with previous generations of immigrants too.

People who added much to our region who understand the need for  immigration control and support to aid integration so they become an asset to us all.

The bigger majority however were racially motivated attacking black and asian businesses, people and mosques when really what had happened had NOTHING to do with it and had they of looked more into things it was obvious false information was being circulated by people with a race hate agenda.

Justice has been sped up - as it should to deter others and provided needed reassurance such behaviour and the attitudes that lie behind it have no place in our society - but we need to address misunderstandings about religious belief, perhaps opening our doors to those of other faiths in our communities literally and ensure politician do listen to the concerns of many so any issues may be nipped in the bud.

Social media has a lot to answer for on the moderation front around the spreading of such vile incitements and slurs, just as many of are concerned about how the needs of teenagers are managed and perhaps it is time to introduce some in real time post approval to bring such misuse across the board under control.

As adults I'm all sure we've seen things that we should never expect on social media on our smartphones and tablets. It needs to end. It's damaging our children too.