Police expect unrest as Games approach

London – British police expect another outburst of rioting in London, possibly even this summer, as economic hardship pushes more people towards social unrest, a study found yesterday, as the country prepares to host the Olympic Games.

Thousands of young people rioted in London and other big cities last August, looting shops and burning buildings, prompting pledges from government to crack down on crime.

The joint study by Britain’s Leftleaning Guardian newspaper and the London School of Economics was based on interviews with 130 officers caught up in the riots.

It found that the police expect more trouble, but feel their ability to respond could be weakened by austerity measures. The government wants to make cuts of about 20 per cent to police budgets.

Like all public sector workers, officers face pay freezes and higher pension contributions.

‘‘Police expect a repeat of the riots that spread across England last summer, and are concerned about whether they will have the resources to cope with future unrest on that scale,’’ the study said.

‘‘Officers said further disorder was likely, with many citing worsening social and economic conditions as the potential cause.’’

Security is under international scrutiny in London as it prepares to host the Olympic Games from July 27 when thousands of tourists and sports fans are expected to flock to Britain.