PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Tens of thousands of people have called for rioters and looters to lose their benefits.
An online petition demands welfare-dependent rioters convicted of offences linked to disorder sweeping the country should surrender their state handouts.
The petition, which has more than 78,000 signatures, says: "No taxpayer should have to contribute to those who have destroyed property, stolen from their community and shown a disregard for the country that provides for them."
If 100,000 people sign the petition, it would trigger a process that could end with MPs voting on the plan.
All petitions hitting the landmark total are referred to the backbench business committee, which decides certain motions for Parliamentary debates.
The Government website hosting the petition was so popular it crashed under the strain.
A notice posted on the page said: "Sorry if you're experiencing problems accessing e-petitions. There is currently a much higher level of demand than we expected."
Other popular petitions argue for the price of petrol to be cut and against restoring the death penalty.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Any benefit recipient who is convicted of an offence and is imprisoned, will lose their benefit entitlement."