London Riots: 450 Arrested, 44 Police Officers Injured, Man Shot And Emergency Services Attacked, Says Deputy Mayor Of London
Over 450 people have been arrested and 44 police officers injured after London suffered its third night of riots, looting and arson attacks on Monday evening, the capital's Deputy Mayor has said.
Kit Malthouse said rioters attempted to murder a police officer and admitted officers were stretched as they struggled to cope with the violence.
“We had 44 who reported injured this morning, four seriously, it looks like we’re going to have an allegation of attempted murder on one particular police officer so it was a very serious night and a very stretching night and I have to say I feel for all those people who’ve woken up this morning to see the charred remains of their businesses, perhaps their homes, and who’ve suffered in London, it’s really been a terrible night”, he told the BBC.
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A man was also shot during riots in Croydon and 14 bystanders were injured in the worst violence in living memory police said on Tuesday morning.
"Last night was the worst the MPS has seen in current memory for unacceptable levels of widespread looting, fires and disorder...
"Disturbing levels of violence were directed at officers again, leading to 44 being injured last night, which included an officer being driven at resulting in broken bones, and another officer receiving an eye injury that is likely to need surgery (separate incident).
14 members of the public were also hurt, including a man in his 60's who has life threatening head injuries."
They warned: "Those involved in criminality should be under no illusion that we will pursue you. We have been making arrests all evening and have a team working during the night examining CCTV images. We will follow up evidence in the coming days in order to bring anyone else responsible for criminal acts to justice."
Deputy Mayor Malthouse also said this morning that those propagating the disorder were attempting to attack fire and ambulance crews.
"Part of the problem for us was that people were spontaneously erupting in these mindless and crazy acts of violence across London and the challenge for us was to focus on the most serious areas and deal with them, to protect fire and ambulance crews that were coming under sustained attack and then to be very mobile across London and move our assets, if you like, as quickly as we possibly could and in that movement there may be some people that we didn’t get to very quickly and I’m sorry for that but it was obviously a very testing evening and we need to make sure that we improve performance this evening and get even more police officers out there."
His comments come as the prime minister and Boris Johnson cut their holidays short to deal with the crisis.
The government’s emergency committee Cobra will be convened this morning to discuss how to deal with the riots.
West Midlands Police have announced that they have arrested 389 people in connection with the riots.
Peter Hitchens: "People riot because they are wicked, selfish and lawless...we have dismantled every form of authority in society."
For the next hour Sky News is hosting a debate on the riots, with journalists Peter Hitchens and David Aaronovitch. It could get interesting...
| @ SkyNewsBreak : 186 Metropolitan Police officers reported injured since Saturday |
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| @ SkyNewsBreak : Metropolitan Police have arrested 950 people so far since starts of the riots, 457 of those have been charged |
The met police have arrested a thug for robbing an injured student during the riots.
He is one of 950 people who have been arrested in connection with violence, disorder and looting by the metropolitan police. A total of 457 people have been charged.
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| @ SkyNewsBreak : Met Police: Roughly half of 240 people who have appearedin court so far charged over London riots were under 18 |
| @ TimGatt : K Clarke tells Sky:"This is worse than 25 yrs ago[...]There are several sections of the population that are much more totally irresponsible" |
Mr Cameron has set himself an enormous task here, effectively pledging to reverse the drift of popular culture in Britain and change the way the country thinks and feels.
While this continues, Met police have been making more arrests and raided properties - officers in Brixton, south London, recovered clothing and an iPod,
In Pimlico, West London, they found £1,600 in cash and "thousands of pounds worth of Hugo Boss clothing - all still with the labels on."
“In recent weeks the prison population has reached record highs and prison and probation officers are being increasingly overstretched. It is vital for public safety and for security in our prisons and the youth secure estate that prison and probation staff get the resources and support they need", he said in a statement released on Thursday.
| @ itv_news : 11-year-old girl charged with criminal damage following disturbances in Nottingham has been given a referral order #riots |
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has today announced a £50 million fund to help make major long term improvements to the capital’s town centres and high streets damaged by the recent disturbances.
| @ frances_skynews : Ian Jones, 36 unemployed pleads guilty to trespass of a building containing a cash machine with 43k in it. |
| @ NigelNelson : Possibly the best, most thoughtful, speech @Ed_Miliband has made since becoming leader. Close study recommended |
Other games will go ahead at the start of the premier league, but start a bit earlier, David Cameron tells MPs.
"Other matches should go ahead but starting earlier on in the day. I think that is a very sensible decision."
The package of support being announced today includes:A £10m recovery fund to help councils with the immediate costs of making their areas safe, clear and clean again. This fund can be used, for example, to clear debris left strewn in streets and make immediate repairs to pavements and roads. This Recovery scheme can also be used to support councils who use their powers to offer council tax discounts or council tax relief to those whose homes have been damaged but are still habitable.
A £20m High Street Support Scheme - funded jointly by the Departments for Communities and Local Government, and Business Innovation and Skills, which will be made available immediately, for the streets and areas where businesses were affected by the rioting. The money is intended to finance those measures that will get business trading again and meet short term costs. Councils will distribute the money and could use it to reduce business rates, finance building repairs and encourage customers back to the affected areas.
In addition, seriously damaged homes and business properties will be taken off the respective valuation lists, and Mr Pickles has strongly encouraged the Valuation Office Agency and local authorities to do so as promptly as possible. This removes any liability for council tax or business rates.
Councils have the power to offer rate relief for local firms, but must pay a quarter of the cost; central government automatically pays for three quarters of the cost. This Scheme will help reimburse councils for their costs, to facilitate immediate and real financial help to be given to small and medium firms to rebuild their local businesses. Business rates are typically the third biggest outgoing for firms after rent and staff.
Re-housing funding to meet the immediate costs of emergency accommodation for families who have been made homeless by the disturbances. As these are exceptional circumstances, Mr Pickles has confirmed that his Department would meet these costs under established homelessness funding processes.
Commenting on the government's measures to help businesses affected by the riots, Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said:
“We welcome these announcements by the government, as they offer practical assistance at what is a terrible time for many businesses across London and the UK. We are also pleased to see that the government recognises the importance of getting businesses back up and running.
"It is important, however, that businesses in affected areas that did not experience any direct damage are able to take advantage of the measures announced today, where they have suffered an indirect impact.
"Ultimately though it will be the enduring spirit of London’s businesses that will see them recover from these appalling events, and ensure that the capital remains the best place in the world to do business.”
This Government has a clear message to the rioters: your one night of madness could have disastrous consequences for the rest of your lives, and for your entire family. .
| @ nickdebois : RT @stewartgjgreen: @nickdebois asks the P M to get schools to assist with identifying rioters and looters <and a good idea it is>thanks! |
"Further militarisation" won't help, she tells the PM
| @ GregHands : Ed Miliband loved seeing his brother slip up there on "elected chief constables", visibly smiling at the mistake. |
David Cameron: It's about giving police more power.
| @ craigawoodhouse : Michael Gove using ipad on Commons front bench. Wonder if he is re-watching newsnight row with Harman? |
He wants "as many people to be nicked" as possible
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| @ TimGatt : How Cameron can control a U.S. based site like Da Twitta, I don't know. |
Reverse police cuts, reverse soft prison plans of current Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.
Cameron is standing firm on this, cites police constables who agree with him in Thames Valley.
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| @ SkyNewsBreak : Scotland Yard: 922 people arrested in connection with violence in London since Saturday - 401 suspects charged |
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Huffington Post UK Dina Rickman First Posted: 09/08/11 08:18 BST Updated: 08/10/11 11:12 BST