Two types of unrest

THE Palma police yesterday had to deal with what eye-witnesses described as a full-blown riot in the tough Palma neighbourhood of Son Gotleu. The officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters and the situation was brought under control. Extra officers were on duty there yesterday afternoon fearing further outbreaks of violence.

The Palma police deserve praise for bringing the situation under control with such speed. The fact that they used rubber bullets and tear gas will be criticised by some but I believe that it probably helped restore order more rapidly and effectively. Perhaps, the London police should follow their example. Last month the London police failed to deal with the riots effectively on the first night. This meant that they spread to other parts of capital and to other English cities. Why weren't the British police allowed to use rubber bullets and tear gas? For the Spanish police these are major weapons to deal with crowd problems. Their use, though controversial, serves its purpose.

The unrest in Son Gotleu comes at a time when the Palma city council is planning major cuts to their community budget. The whole affair has echoes of the London riots. But the big difference was the response by the police. The scenes seen in London should never be repeated, it was an absolute nightmare. The London police should look no further than Palma to find ways to deal with unrest. It may be brutal but it works and brings the situation under control.