The defendants accused of riot related offences are experiencing 'the full force of the law.' The Bail Act seems no longer to apply and immediate custody or committal for sentence to the Crown court is the norm. On a cost benefit basis, this appears to lack thought. Prisons cost a lot of money - it's far better to impose suspended sentence (to act as a deterrent to with regards to future behaviour) coupled with a community penalty (curfew and/or community punishment.) But practicality was never the strong point of thieves or Magistrates!
Teams of riot police smashing down doors to extract some retribution may look 'tough,' but is another step down in the relationship with 'youth,' emotion not the best driver of action.
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