As the riots progress over several days, the Daily Mail's coverage and framing of the events evolves:
- Initially it focuses on shocking images and details of violence and unrest spreading to new areas.
- It then highlights the involvement of youths and portrays the rioters negatively as opportunists rather than legitimate protesters.
- Later articles place more blame on poor parenting and the lack of youth programs, while also criticizing the police response.
- Throughout, the coverage aims to generate and prolong a "moral panic" in readers by emphasizing threatening images and language about the unrest spreading and society breaking down.