In 2009 I investigated the background to the Police use of a LAV in the Molenaar siege, after debate about its constitutional propriety.  That reminded me that in a "tidy mind" fit 20 years ago our naive leaders deprived ourselves of a long tested and effective law that could be a vital part of suppressing the kind of wild destructive glee now on show in the UK.

We lost the Riot Act. That Act was simple and effective. Essentially it said, you are now warned that if you do not disperse and cease threatening riot, normal rules governing your rights to be in the street, and the state's relationhip with you are suspended, and you may be shot.

We no longer have that capacity.

 It should be reinstated, in all its simplicity, updated only to allow for modern methods of communicating the message, so that Twitter, Facebook, radio, TV could be used as well as the Mayor reading the proclamation to the citizenry.

Because the sight of David Cameron vowing to be tough just discredits authority. It means nothing while he is at the same time ruling out simple effective measures, like making it plain that the authorities will not be straitjacketed in responding to riot with at least the same level of force.

Even more simple for us, would be to restore to New Zealanders the right  only  lost in 1980, to protect their own property by force if necessary. The right of self defence is now restricted to yourself and others, not property.