Riots in London - Apr 9, 157

Following decades of rolling back civil rights and political liberties, riots have broken out in London. The event that sparked these riots was the shooting of 12 year old Jack Danes, who was caught shoplifting, by a police officer. This follows legislation that was passed a few days ago, which introduced harsher punishments for criminals below eighteen. The legislation also passed measures for more surveillance to be conducted on the general population.
Many groups that were long silenced have now sprung up. The riots so far have lasted three days, during which time police have handed out swift and harsh punishment, many times shooting at peaceful protesters. The British government has declined to release death tolls. One unexpected group that has caught a lot of attention have been socialists and communists. While the actual socialist party has not existed for years, all of its leaders were either expelled or have disappeared, it seems that the lower class people have grown tired of the corporate dictatorship that rules over Britain. Despite the constant prosecution and lack of political rights, the socialists have been organized throughout the riots and have even taken over control of some sectors of south London. The rioters are mostly very old people, who remember Britain before it slipped into dictatorship, along with many young radicals.
Other groups have also become prominent during the riots. The main body of the rioters consist of a disorganized mob, destroying the city and looting shops. Most of them don’t seek to completely reform the system but to roll back some laws, such as the very bill that sparked the riots. A smaller minority are monarchists, who seek to depose the current dictator and restore the British Monarchy. Some parliamentarians have also risen up, but since the failure of the First Brexit there is little confidence in or support for giving power back to parliament.
The riots are showing some signs of slowing; an increased police presence in the area has already shown to be effective. The third day of rioting has been much more peaceful compared to the first two, and government officials expect to have subdued the city within the next two days. Outside of London, an uptick in crime has occurred, but nothing on the scale of the London riots.