Liberty, formally known as the National Council for Civil Liberties, is the pressure group that works to promote human rights and civil liberties in the UK. Take a look at the recent postings to their website.

From August 9:

"Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected - people have been injured, property damaged and our communities ransacked.

In very testing circumstances, the response of both the police and Government has been measured and proportionate so far - we welcome this and hope it will continue.

It is clear that this completely destructive lawlessness has no rational connection with the shooting in Tottenham.

Nonetheless it is vital that the IPCC undertakes a speedy and thorough investigation into the death. This wanton violent disorder serves only to distract from that vital inquiry."

(emphasis added)

From August 12:

"Over the past few days, police chiefs have been robust in rejecting calls for military intervention, water cannon and plastic bullets - and have instead redeployed and inflated the number of officers on the street to good effect.

Tim Godwin, acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that he would rather be the last man left in Scotland Yard, with all his management team out on the streets, than call for the army. Sir Hugh Orde, head of ACPO, dismissed the use of both water cannon and baton rounds as inappropriate for the current circumstances and flatly stated that ‘to suggest human rights get in the way of effective policing is simply wrong'."