I agree with mgmonkeys last sentence.

I think there should be heavy prison sentences for those who have assaulted others, committed arson or endangered lives, and there should be hefty community penalties for the looters.

There is no point in making anyone homeless or stopping their benefits as it will only compound the problem. Also, it's an automatic assumption that rioters will be social housing tenants/on benefits which isn't necessarily true (early reports of those appearing in court mention working people). It also tars social housing residents/benefit claimants (most of whom are decent and law-abiding) with the same brush.