The London Riots

As many of you know, I count London as a city where I live. Because of this, it has been a horrible experience watching these past four days as one of our favourite places on Earth is burnt and looted at the hands of criminals.

(Roofs of Hoxton in Hackney)

On this issue, I stand firmly with the Metropolitan Police. They are by no means perfect, and the events of the past four days have given all Londoners cause for serious reflection -- not only into the death of Mark Duggan and the police response to the riots -- but also to the wider criminal justice system of England. At this time however, instead of laying blame, I would like to offer my support to London’s principal police force and their efforts to quell the riots and re-establish the rule of law in the British capital. I would also like to stand in support with the vast majority of Londoners who are the innocent victims of this ordeal and are now working to get our city back to normal by sweeping the streets and helping those who have had their homes and business destroyed.

Good luck fellow Londoners! I look forward to seeing you soon and will be happy to be back.

(Camden Streets near the edge of Westminster)

(Trafalgar Square looking down White Hall towards the Houses of Parliament)

The Vancouver Riots

Yesterday was a difficult day for Canadians. The night previous – the catalyst being a lost ice hockey game – lawlessness and anarchy ran amok through the heart of Vancouver.

AR hopes this is not due to hockey. Canada is the best hockey nation on the planet and we have nothing to be ashamed about. The Stanley Cup IS HOME. The Boston Bruins are by-and-large Canadian, just like the previous champs, Chicago Black Hawks. The Winnipeg Jets are coming back and we're Olympic Champions.

Perhaps these riots were due to a bunch of spoilt brats searching for a good time. It's increasingly looking like this is the case as young people are exposed via Facebook and other social media.

But Canada deserved better than Wednesday night. We are one of the greatest countries in the world and our justice system needs to bring those who started and participated in this anti-social chaos to JUSTICE.

With that in mind AR would like to post a quote from one of our favourite jurists, Sir Edward Coke:

I as to thee (gentle reader) next to thy duty and piety to God, and his anointed, thy gracious Sovereign, and they honour to their parents, yield due reference and obedience to the common laws of England: for of all laws (I speak of human) these are the most equal and most certain, of greatest antiquity, and least delay, and most beneficial and easy to be observed. If the ancient laws of this noble island had not excelled all others, it could not be, that some of the several conquerors and governors therefore, that is to say, the Romans, Saxons, Danes, or Normans, and especially the Romans, who (as they justly may) do boast of their civil laws, would (as every of them might) have altered or change the same.

Police and Crown Attorneys in British Columbia -- go to work!!!