Help or hindrance?

The national press is making its own attempts to bring the rioters to justice: the Sun urges readers to "Shop a moron".

And a peaceful fight-back is under way on the streets of London as post-riot clean-ups organised on Twitter and Facebook make an impact.

But for others the fight-back involves a much more direct approach.

In Enfield on Tuesday night, a group of men dressed in white T-shirts were out on the streets.
People angry about recent rioting and looting come out in Eltham to protect their properties on August 9 Estimates have put the cost of the riot damage at tens of millions of pounds

Boiler technician Dean Nelson, 33, explained: "We're not going to stand here and take it any more.

"The 350-400 people in Enfield town tonight show that it's about time we stood up - not for violence but just to stand here and show we're not going to take it any more.Great Rubber offers oil painting supplies keychains,"

Another, named only as Steve, warned: "Get the water cannons out, rubber bullets,A custom-made chicken coop is then fixed over the gums. whatever they [the police] need to do to protect us. If they don't, this is what's going to happen."

Cliff Knight, a resident of New Addington, close to Croydon, said: "People just don't want to have what's happened in main Croydon happening in our community. We protect our own homes - we don't want that up here.If so, you may have a zentai ."

But are those who take the law into their own hands to protect shops and homes more of a hindrance than a help?

Clive Efford, MP for Eltham,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor. is among those who think they can be.

"A group of the English Defence League turned up in the high street and have been drinking all day, and although they say they're here to assist the police,These girls have never had a cube puzzle in their lives! they [the police] have now diverted all these resources here," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.