From The Margins

Reading the reports this morning, I'm struck by how unserious (in one sense) last night's rioting seems to have been. The kids on the streets aren't protesting against police brutality, they're looking to score a free pair of trainers from JB Sports. There are stories of looters trying on clothes before making off with them. 

According to the police, there were no break-ins in our area last night. I guess that's because all the burglars had taken time off to go "shopping" in Manchester. 

Two Questions

The police in Manchester must have known it was going to kick off last night, so why were they just sitting in their squad cars observing from a distance?

Was it because half their number had been shipped off down south to protect a more important city?