Scotland: 'These Are English Riots'

Scotland, so far untouched by riots, has sent a number of policemen to London and other English cities to help control the unrest.

Scottish police said Wednesday that additional officers, along with equipment and vehicles from all eight of the country's police forces, will head to Midlands and northern England cities like Birmingham and Manchester.

"The situation is being constantly monitored between the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and colleagues in England, and any further assistance required will be given careful consideration," the agency stated.

Riots started in the north London neighborhood of Tottenham on Saturday, and quickly spread across the city, before hitting places like Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham on Monday night. But despite the large-scale unrest, Scotland has been so-far untouched by the disorder burning through its southern neighbor.

"We know we have a different society in Scotland," First Minister Alex Salmond told the BBC's "Good Morning Scotland" radio program.

"One of my frustrations yesterday was to see the events being described as riots in the UK. Until such time we do have a riot in Scotland, what we are seeing are riots in London and across English cities."

"It is actually unhelpful to see them inaccurately presented because one of the dangers we face in Scotland is copycat action," he added.

Despite the insistence that the riots are a purely English phenomenon, Scottish police say they are prepared should the violence move north.

"We are not complacent," Salmond said. "We have already had resilience meetings of the government over the last few days."

He assured Scots the diminished police force still has "the capacity to deal with any situation which might arise in Scotland."

There were four "isolated" incidents in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, on Tuesday night, but the city's lord mayor insisted they shouldn't be considered riots. Two retailers were attacked and burgled, while two small fires were started in abandoned buildings. Firemen and police quickly gained control of the situation.

"I can understand people may be concerned after hearing reports of what happened in Cardiff, given the context of problems in England," Councillor Delme Bowen told the BBC.

"But there has been no organized unrest in Cardiff or anywhere else in Wales for that matter. I am sure that people in Wales will continue to respect their communities."

Welsh police have also been sent to aid officers in London and other parts of England. Around 16,000 police officers are currently stationed in the British capital.