Why and how questions and statistics

During the last days three statistics were published in relation to the riots of 6-10 August in England. At the time of writing, over 2,000 arrests were made in connection with the riots. Of those arrested, 75 per cent have previous convictions for similar offences, 25 percent have over 10 convictions for similar offences and 50 percent are under the age of 20. The three statistics contribute to a general answer to why there were riots if not to questions of why there were riots then and why there, in the particular locations. The statistics make little contribution to an answer to how? This is especially true if the how question is linked to a related question: how did the riots stop? For answers to the latter two questions, not just rioters but the police need to be considered.

Contributor: Geoff Williams. Sempringham [ehistory.org.uk] eLearning Office.