Policy makers would be wise to see these riots as part of a timeline that stretches back years. The problems didn't just start last month or even last year, says Sean Brennan.

The British public have witnessed something appalling on our streets. Something so lawless, it left many people in shock and our nation's reputation tarnished across the world.

A peaceful protest in Tottenham was hijacked and turned into widespread 'shopping with violence'. Some of it deadly.

Our police did a heroic job of getting to grips with a situation they have never faced before. They countered a geographically dispersed, highly connected mob, who were bent only on trouble.

Commentators blamed the police, the rioters and a long list of causes from cuts - to literacy.

Initially we saw a simplistic 'arms race' on who could be the toughest on rioters. So now the dust has settled and we begin the process of getting back to normal, what should council leaders be thinking and doing right now?

As a London borough that escaped serious problems, despite being situated next door to Croydon and having our own share of deprivation, I think we should look at five main issues:-

Firstly, the evidence says that gangs were at the heart of this. Talk to the police and they will tell you that the hardcore were organised; arriving in vans and people carriers, with technology and targets.

This group were surrounded by hangers on and some very young people who were hindering the police effort. This shows us what happens when respect for the law evaporates.

Secondly, the problems we saw didn't just start last month, or even in the last year. Policy makers would be wise to see these riots as part of a timeline that stretches back years.

Repetition is a real possibility. This wasn't just senseless greed on a massive scale. It was the moment that a growing sub-culture dominated by gangs with an alien moral code revealed itself to the mainstream.

Thirdly, we need to focus our efforts on long term prevention. Part of this will be through stronger deterrents and modified policing.

But we also need a considered, forensic examination of the issues that have led us to this situation and a proper debate.

We need to re-examine how we tackle gang culture, school discipline, parental responsibility, support for young people and how we build stronger communities.

We need neighbourhoods where everyone feels involved, where we support families with problems and where our welfare system not only confers responsibilities, but provides the incentives for people to build better futures for themselves.

Fourthly, at its core this was about a cohort of people, particularly young people, who feel they have no future.

In the absence of hope, people struggling to get out of their predicament are far more likely to slip into criminality. We need to offer these people hope of a better future and clear pathways to self improvement. Doing so will go beyond public institutions.

Finally, we must avoid reinforcing a sense of them and us. The burst of community spirit that we saw immediately after the riots is to be applauded. But we need to find new ways to bring our young and old, and our rich and poor together.

We need to capitalise on the strength we saw in places like Southall, Birmingham and Dalston.It is often when dramatic events such as those we have just witnessed take place, that we see the pride people have in their local neighbourhoods, their desire to show their unity as a community and their willingness to come together and rebuild what has been damaged.

As politicians we need to ensure there are proper sanctions for criminal behaviour, but we must put an equal, systematic and high profile effort into building and maintaining strong communities. Places where everyone feels they have a stake in the future – particularly as we face more challenging times. Sanctions alone will not work.

Right now we need to deliver a message of hope about what we can achieve and offer our residents a role in fixing what is broken.