Public insurrection 2011

UK newspapers and social media sites are warning that the austerity measures are likely to lead to high levels of unrest.  Strikes, demonstrations and possible disorder appear to be on the cards. 

 Is this something new?  Not at all.  On establishing the New Police in 1829 Peel and his Commissioners faced years of civil unrest that ultimately spread throughout the country as the 'long arm of the law' was extended from town to town.  The main reasons for this were due to a lack of public support for the increase in rates to pay for the police and a fear that the new police would restrict people's liberty.  Instead of being able to carry out Peel's wishes of preventing crime the police were often trying to quell disturbances.

Until the 19th Century riotous protest was accepted and mutually understood means by which politically unrepresented masses communicated grievances to the ruling elite - 'bargaining by riot.  But with the spread of industrial capitalism riot came to be regarded not as a form of proto democracy but as a fundemantal threat to the social and political order (Hobsbawn, 1959: 116)

 

Fast forward a few decades to 1952.  American police reformer OW Wilson in his book Police Planning states that 'Community attitudes are expressed in various ways.  Lack of compliance with laws, lack of public resentment against non compliance and frequent failures of juries to convict are reflections of unwholesome public sentiment.  The policies of elected representatives of the people as expressed in legislation, budget appropriations, and administrative orders are other expressions of community feelings.'

Here’s hoping that juries continue to convict criminals and that the public resentment  does not, as in the 1800s, become focussed on the police who themselves are being subjected to cuts and job losses.  Will common sense prevail in 2011?