A Motley Crew
The courts are still processing well over a thousand suspects - charged with taking part in the violence and looting in London - and other English towns and cities.
The criminal classes will no doubt be well represented by the end - and will no doubt already be well known to the police.
But what's striking is that many of those already up in front of the magistrates - come from very respectable backgrounds.
Labelled as 'middle class' rioters and looters by the tabloid press - this motley crew so far include:
A grammar school girl and daughter of a millionaire
An aspiring musician
A chef looking to start up his own restaurant
A recent university graduate and aspiring social worker
A ballerina
A law student
An engineering student
A Baptist Church 'mentor'
An estate agent
A steward at an outdoor opera venue
A paratrooper
Now young people sometimes do foolish and inexplicable things - caught up in the moment and 'excitement' - of what must have seemed like a good idea at the time.
Some have put their hands up to the stupidity of it all.
One or two have even handed themselves in - and for that I hope they get some credit - even though a criminal conviction will blight their lives and future careers.
But those involved in the real violence - those that deny everything and waste even more police time - deserve little compassion.
The courts can and should - make an example of the worst offenders.
The criminal classes will no doubt be well represented by the end - and will no doubt already be well known to the police.
But what's striking is that many of those already up in front of the magistrates - come from very respectable backgrounds.
Labelled as 'middle class' rioters and looters by the tabloid press - this motley crew so far include:
A grammar school girl and daughter of a millionaire
An aspiring musician
A chef looking to start up his own restaurant
A recent university graduate and aspiring social worker
A ballerina
A law student
An engineering student
A Baptist Church 'mentor'
An estate agent
A steward at an outdoor opera venue
A paratrooper
Now young people sometimes do foolish and inexplicable things - caught up in the moment and 'excitement' - of what must have seemed like a good idea at the time.
Some have put their hands up to the stupidity of it all.
One or two have even handed themselves in - and for that I hope they get some credit - even though a criminal conviction will blight their lives and future careers.
But those involved in the real violence - those that deny everything and waste even more police time - deserve little compassion.
The courts can and should - make an example of the worst offenders.
