The mobs of largely young people terrorising large parts of London and other cities in England reveal a part of British society that is “broken and detached”, says a think tank.

The Centre for Social Justice, founded by Iain Duncan Smith, has condemned the violence being perpetrated by the rioters and called for all criminal behaviour committed at their hands to be met with the full force of the law.

“The appalling scenes on the streets of London, and elsewhere in the UK, should be condemned unreservedly,” said Gavin Poole, executive director of the think tank.

“Yet we have to recognise that this mayhem also exposes a broken section of British society – utterly detached from the values and responsibilities we expect of our fellow citizens.”

Mr Poole blamed the breakdown of the family and poverty in part for the chaos on the capital’s streets.

He called for a debate on policing techniques, but stressed that there was also a need for “deep rooted social reform” once order has been restored.

“As wrong and unacceptable as it is, [the rioters] project anarchy in public because it is what surrounds them at home,” he said.

“Many will have never known stable parenting or fatherhood role models. Such family breakdown and dysfunction has rendered countless young people damaged and directionless.

“We will find a high majority of these young people have failed in schools where truancy is normal, behaviour is often disruptive and boundaries are not established.

“Many of them face a life on benefits in ghettos scarred by poor housing and street gangs, completely devoid of aspiration. In such communities, they have been written off by society repeatedly.

“These are the actions of people who live in chaos, hopelessness and poverty. What they are doing is criminal, completely wrong and must be punished. But it is not entirely random; they believe they have nothing to lose and no one to answer to. Some even consider it normal.

“Yes, we need political leadership and a debate about policing techniques. But when the violence ends, we need deep rooted social reform which understands that a section of Britain is badly broken and needs to be rebuilt.”