How quirky that the British would consider even further erosion of what's left of civil liberties, but only allowed the police to use clubs and shields against

How quirky that the British would consider even further erosion of what's left of civil liberties, but only allowed the police to use clubs and shields against looters. Being better armed than the mob one is seeking to contain would seem like a more focused way to deal with riots than by further marginalizing their citizens.