Monday 15th August 2011 | 14:59

Dave holds post-riot cards

All the polling following last week’s rioting has laid bare the extent of public indignation at the violent behaviour seen across the country. From these figures it is easy to understand why David Cameron is so keen to be seen to be taking ‘tough action’ and use the riots to expand on his plans to rebuild ‘broken Britain’.

YouGov’s polling over the weekend showed overwhelming backing for measures such as water cannon (91% support), curfews (88%), tear gas (80%), tasers (78%), rubber bullets (77%) and ‘bringing in the army’ (73%).

As to punitive measures to be taken against rioters, a similar number supporting suspending their benefits (78%) and evicting them from social housing (74%).

Though Conservatives were even more likely to support all these measures, they found widespread support across all demographics and party allegiances. Interestingly, and usefully for Mr Cameron, less well-off voters (C2DEs) were slightly more likely to support the removal of benefits and eviction of rioters. Part of this may be that lower income voters are more likely to be victims of disorder, live on a council estate they want to keep safe or see people on benefits they don’t feel deserve them.

As for more formal means of punishing rioters, YouGov found last week that 42% thought those convicted of criminal damage should spend more than a year in prison, 63% for violent disorder, 89% for arson (including 60% supporting more than 5 years) and 63% for looting.

On many of these, the public will be hard to satisfy. It is possible that this divide always exists between the ‘popular will’ and the status quo on dealing with violent criminals – just as it does on immigration – that only comes to light at moments like these.

The Prime Minister clearly has a tightrope to walk, as many of these measures will doubtless be prohibitively expensive – and others, such as the removal of benefits or evicting rioters’ families, practically extremely difficult.

But, as this article by Nick Robinson highlights so well, this is personal for the Prime Minister. As we suggested as early as last Tuesday, this is a chance for him to finally illustrate what he means by the ‘Big Society’ and mending ‘Broken Britain.’ He will be determined to prove these are not just buzzwords, but a philosophy backed up by a package of policies that aim to counter social ills that have been so obviously laid bare.

On the other hand, much as voters see the issue of ‘broken Britain’ as one for society and the country in general, they don't see it as one which impacts on their day-to-day life. So although the vast majority believe social problems in society are far more serious than they were ten or twenty years ago (74% to 17%), they don't think this of the they live in, 53% to 37%.

In fact, the latter figure is a strong improvement from the situation just two years ago, when 46% to 42% did recognise a ‘broken society’ their area. The reasons for such a change amid a climate of economic stagnation and public disorder don’t seem instantly obvious. Perhaps, given that violence only occurred in a small proportion of the country, seeing riots elsewhere made people more appreciative of their own, orderly, neighbourhood. This is backed up by figures we elaborated on last week, showing crime was far more of an issue for ‘the country’ than individuals and their families.

Where David Cameron has distinct advantages in this debate, however, is on the causes of the rioting. When asked to highlight three, 61% of YouGov’s panel chose each of ‘criminality’, ‘bad parenting’ and ‘gang culture’ rather than more indirect causes such as unemployment, deprivation and spending cuts, which the left are trying to highlight. Voters will want to tackle the causes of this violence, but don’t want anything that smacks of making excuses for the rioters, or that, perhaps, looks like throwing more money in their direction. The Prime Minister seems to 'get' this, and it chimes well with his agenda - particularly in contrast to that of Ed Miliband.

It will all be a difficult circle for Mr Cameron to square, particularly in an age of austerity, but if any politicians hold any cards in this debate, he does. Whether the public see the policies he proposes as credible in this 'rebuilding', however, is a different question - and it's that which will decide whether he takes the political advantage.