Orpington MP Jo Johnson has joined the prime minister in condemning those responsible for this week's violence in London, hitting out at the "opportunistic thieves" who looted local stores.  Although spared serious disorder, there was small-scale vandalism in the borough and shops were damaged in Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington and St Mary Cray.

"The behaviour of those who thought it was acceptable to loot from shops and intimidate residents was appalling," Mr Johnson said.  He insisted that new measures announced by David Cameron, including harsher sentencing by the courts and the eviction of criminals by landlords from social housing, would give "enhanced powers to the police to prevent further criminality, build confidence and support those who have lost livelihoods".

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