Britain Video Feature: The Start of the Unrest in Birmingham

Yesterday an EA reader pointed us to this notable 12-minute video documenting the beginning of trouble in central Birmingham on Monday evening.

We present it as a vivid snapshot of the events that have overtaken England since last weekend's unrest began in Tottenham in north London. We are more cautious in trying to draw any conclusions about "blame", in contrast to opinion expressed in this video: despite the wide range of imagery --- often dramatic --- the context is often unclear. For example, did the alleged police "kettling" and charging of people begin before or after serious episodes of looting --- including the strippling of mobile phone shops (an event only briefly alluded to with the shot of empty mobile phone boxes) --- began?