Public Opinion and the Riots

There is some polling on public reaction to the riots here.  There seems to be strong support for a hardline approach, except in the question where indirect consequences are pointed out _ on evicting whole families from Council Housing.  There are already concerns over the overflow in the prison system and other longer term consequences.  I am sure that a real solution would need greater emphasis on restorative justice, community sentences and socio-economic causes than David Cameron's rhetoric currently emphasises.  Mr Cameron has in the past tried to portray himself as a "liberal" but only in cases where it looked like a vote winner.  We will see if he or anyone else in the coalition is willing to persist with that approach now that there is no immediate political advantage.