Britain set to widen curfew powers in wake of riots

Britain is to consider the extension of curfew powers to prevent a repeat of the large-scale rioting, arson and looting that shook London and other major cities last week, Home Secretary Theresa May said.

"It's clear to me that, as long as we tolerate the kind of anti-social behaviour that takes place every day up and down the country, we will continue to see high levels of crime, a lack of respect for private property, and a contempt for community life," said May.

In a speech on police reform in London, she also sought to calm growing tensions between the police and politicians by ruling out categorically the possibility of a non-British officer becoming the new head of Scotland Yard, London's embattled police force.

The head of London's Metropolitan Police (Met) had a "unique policing role in relation to national security, and that is why the post has always been held by a British citizen," May said.

She was making the remark in connection with a heated debate about government plans to consult Bill Bratton, the former US "supercop" renowned for this zero-tolerance tactics in New York and other US cities, on the issue of curbing crime fanned by urban gangs.

"Of course, as you know, we always seek advice from abroad - and, as you know, Bill Bratton is going to be providing advice, as others will be, on gang crime," said May.

"But I would also say this. I absolutely believe that we will be able to find from amongst our own ranks the sort of tough crime fighter, equipped to lead the Metropolitan Police and drive down crime in our capital."

May said the wanted to give police the tools required to tackle future disturbances under new guidelines to be worked out.

"Under existing laws, there is no power to impose a general curfew in a particular area," said May.

Additionally, there were only limited powers to impose a curfew on someone aged below 16. "These are the sort of changes we need to consider," said the Home Secretary.

The police needed to have the legal powers to take "robust action" against criminals. They also need strong leaders - single-minded crime fighters - who get to the top and measure their own performance on nothing but taking the fight to lawbreakers," said May.

The government has also proposed the extended use of "gang injunctions" against adults and youths, and advocated new dispersal powers as well as police powers to remove face masks from rioters.

However, suggestions that police in Britain should be equipped with water cannons and plastic bullets have been rejected by the force.

Relations between the police and the government have soured in the wake of the riots after May, and Prime Minister David Cameron, were accused by senior officers of wrongly taking credit for a vast surge in police number deployed in London following the peak of the rioting on Aug 8.

Cameron's idea to take advice from Bratton on US police tactics has also been sharply condemned by senior officers, who said there were few similarities between policing requirements in Britain and the US.

Figures released Tuesday showed that 237 police officers were injured in the riots in London, where 1,685 people have so far been arrested and 985 charged. The riots also spread to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and other towns and cities over a five-day period.