by Paul Francis

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned there could be a repeat of this summer's riots if nothing is done to "rescue those with nothing to lose."

Archbishop Rowan Williams warned in an article in The Guardian there would be more outbreaks of futile anarchy if nothing was done to persuade the rioters they had a stake in society.

"We have to persuade them, simply, that we as government and civil society alike will be putting some intelligence and skill into giving them the stake they do not have. Without this, we shall face more outbreaks of futile anarchy, in which we shall all, young and old, be the losers."

The summer riots saw the trouble that began in London spread to the Medway Towns, with cars set alight in different areas and a small number of arrests.

Dr Williams, who recently spoke out against possible cuts to Kent’s youth services, said:

"The big question...is whether, in our current fretful state, with unavoidable austerity ahead, we have the energy to invest what's needed in family and neighbourhood and school to rescue those who think they have nothing to lose."

He was responding to a survey of the rioters in which 81% said there would be more rioting. Of those surveyed, just over half said they felt part of British society, compared with 92% of the wider population.