Today in London we saw the first major riot organised via Twitter, so I guess the overhyped social networking site has some use other than for monitoring in real time the minutiae of Stephen Fry’s fascinating life. And, darlings, it was absolutely wonderful in parts!

Revolutionary chariot seized by the Romans

Don’t believe all the crap from politicians and other talking heads who blame the spectacle on media organisations looking for exciting images and copy fodder, because much of it is down to the politicians themselves and those ever loyal servants of the state known as the Metropolitan Police. I do hope the plods and their political masters are pleased with themselves after today’s events, because those of us on the other side of the lines are absolutely ecstatic.

Someone clearly isn’t into purchasing stuff

It may have been a broad coalition out on the streets, but the anarchists in particular can chalk up the action as a major success. Unlike the lacklustre march at the weekend, today we had a mostly creative and cathartic protest/riot/call-it-what-you-will. All part of the Great British Tradition.

V makes an appearance

The vast majority of those involved in today’s protests in the City of London were non-violent, even in the face of massive police provocation. But to be honest I cannot quite bring myself to condemn those who did kick off. That includes the group which smashed into and ransacked the Royal Bank of Scotland building on Threadneedle Street, and the individuals who taunted the serried ranks of riot police until the latter snapped and lashed out with psychotic abandon.

Many of the police I came across today started off good-natured, but some of them turned very nasty when ordered to do so. I’ve seen this many times over the years, and it neither shocks nor surprises me. Today’s policing was highly political, and the tactics were taken straight out of operational manuals developed since the early 1980s.

All in all I’ll give the police 3/10 for their efforts today, while the anarchists get a whopping 8/10. I can’t say fairer than that. When’s the next do?