I didn't listen to the Radio 5 discussion, but to me it wasn't visitors who rioted and looted.
It all started because the family of the man who was shot by the police, assembled at a police station to get some answers regarding the killing, this in turn attracted a large group of locals, who then finished up by turning the proceedings into a huge riot and looting spree.
Yes the police were in a way to blame, simply because they chose to just stand back and let the mob carry out their looting.
But one cannot blame the police officers themselves, the blame should be levelled at their 'superiors' (and I use that term loosely)
obviously it was them who dished out the orders to 'tread carefully'.
All too often we witness this political correct 'hands behind their backs' attitude, 'velvet glove treatment' and 'treading on broken glass' approach taking place, especially when certain minority groups are involved.
It was due to this 'ease in looting' that the Tottenham experience was copied by other groups across the country, and had the police operated a 'zero tolerance' attitude in Tottenham I doubt very much if these other looting rampages would have taken place.