Britain seeks advice from US street crime expert

The round-up of looting suspects continues apace across England after this week’s wave of rioting.

Arrest and seizure operations are taking place in several cities as authorities seek to restore order.

More than 1,200 people have been detained in London alone.

British police flooded the streets again on Friday night to ensure weekend drinking does not reignite the unrest.

Describing the four nights of looting, arson and

violence, in which five people were killed, as “criminality, pure and simple”, the British Prime Minister David Cameron said the initial police response had been inadequate.

His remarks drew a sharp reaction from the police service, which is facing deep cuts in numbers as part of a government austerity drive aimed at cutting the large public debt.

Cameron has also enlisted an American expert on street gangs to advise the government on handling gang violence.

“The government is very interested in trying to quickly come up with strategies and plans to deal with the issues and concerns identified during these riots,” said William Bratton, a former police chief and now chairman of private security firm Kroll.

Bratton has worked with British police several times over the past 20 years. He is credited with breaking up gangs in New York and Boston as well as curbing crime in Los Angeles.

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