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bollocks to Hugh Orde's "yet". this isn't a paramilitary insurgency. the total number of guns accessible to these looters must be tiny compared to the paramilitaries in the Troubles and i doubt the the london gangs who can lay their hands on guns (a small subsection of the looters) are interested in shooting police over this either.

The police in NI had no problems using plastic bullets when I was growing up, they didn't need to come under live fire or petrol bombs for them to open fire. I don't see why the police shouldn't be able to use deterrents like that if it solves the problem. Though maybe my opinion is just clouded with how things where when I was brought up.