Assistant Chief Constable Norman Bettison, of West Yorkshire Police, stated that he saw a "..community tearing itself apart,"  and that "the youths seem to be rising up as much against society and elders as against the police.
Assistant Chief Constable Norman Bettison, from West Yorkshire Police, observed a community experiencing division and unrest, where young people were actively rebelling against not only law enforcement but also societal norms and older generations.