Riot punishments to fit the crime

Britain’s government is trying to work out why the riots there happened and how to avoid a repeat of the looting and violence in London and other English cities.

As Prime Minister David Cameron visited a London food and clothing distribution centre for those who lost everything when their homes and businesses were torched, his deputy Nick Clegg said there will be an independent inquiry

Clegg said it will both investigate the causes of the riots and allow victims to testify: “It won’t be a public inquiry, it won’t be established under the Inquiries Act, but it will serve as a way in which victims and communities can have their voice heard. “

As part of their punishment, the deputy prime minister also said looters will be forced to wear orange jackets and help to clean up areas hit by the disturbances in so called “riot payback schemes”.

The government is also considering give police tougher powers including general curfews to clear the streets though that idea was immediately criticised by civil liberties groups.

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