British comedian John Oliver has once again offered a lucid analysis of the world's current affairs, this time dissecting the conflict in Ferguson, Missouri.

Clashes between police and protesters and many of the town's 20,000 citizens caught in between have been escalating ever since an officer shot and killed unarmed black man, MIchael Brown, on the street just over a week ago.

In a 15-minute monologue, John Oliver on his HBO Last Week Tonight program launched a scathing critique of local authorities' behaviour and the "militarisation" of America's police.

He plays a clip quoting the mayor of Ferguson, James Knowles, as saying: "We've never seen this kind of violence we've never seen this kind of frustration or tension between the races. I've always been proud to say that to people."

To which Oliver replies: "Oh we're absolutely famous for it. Presumably that's why I, the mayor of Ferguson, am currently on national f---ing television. Presumably we're talking about how well our town is getting along right now."

"As a general rule no one should ever be allowed to say there has been no history of racial tension here because that sentence has never been true anywhere on earth."

He is also derisive of the "militarisation" of America's police, criticising the officers who have been pictured pointing weapons at unarmed black men.

"The police are not soldiers so why, in this photo from Ferguson, are they wearing f---ing camo?" he asks. "They are north-west of St Louis not north-west of the Amazon."

"If you are a cop in the United States you should dress for the job you have, not the job you want."

"Let's take it all away from them and if they can go a whole month without killing a single unarmed black man, then, and only then, can they get their f---ing toys back."

Some of Oliver's more memorable takedowns include Sepp Blatter and FIFA and Prime Minister Tony Abbott.