Communities and Victims Panel has published its interim report on the widespread public disorder across England in August 2011.
Chaired by former JobCentre Plus chief Darra Singh the panel visited 21 areas and spoke with thousands of people who were affected by the riots and some who were not.
The report estimates that between 13,000 and 15,000 people were actively involved in the disturbances between 6 and 10 August. The overwhelming majority of those brought before the courts so far have been male and had a previous conviction. Nearly half (46 per cent) of the children brought before the courts live in the 10 per cent lowest income areas.
The report is split into three sections:
- In the first it sets out the facts, outlining what happened where and who was involved.
- In the second section, it considers what triggered the riots, why they spread and the motivations of those involved.
- In the final section, it outlines the areas the Panel intends to focus on in the next phase of the Panel’s work and sets out further important questions the Panel think need to be answered.
The panel recommended a range of practical measures to help reduce the future risk of riots:
- Physical environment – local emergency plans should include a full threat assessment and review of town centre layouts.
- CCTV – local authorities and other relevant organisations should review local CCTV coverage and consider if it needs to be extended.
- Effective partnerships – local authorities should engage all frontline workers (eg, neighbourhood wardens) when there mis a risk of rioting, for example to patrol the streets, and should consider asking charities and housing associations to help prevent disturbances.
- Trusted information sources – local authorities and the police should draw up plans to reach key target groups when trouble is brewing, for example via detached youth workers; messages to social housing residents; messages to parents.
- Access to information – local authorities and the police should ensure that mechanisms are in place to contact key groups of people if there is a risk of rioting.
- Practical measures – local authorities should review the use of diversionary activity when there is a risk of rioting. This could include voluntary as well as local authority services.
- Emergency plans – police, local authorities and other relevant organisations should immediately review their emergency plans to ensure they properly cover public disorder on the scale of the August riots.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles welcomed the panel’s report, saying:
“We are embarked on a programme of action to tackle entrenched problems like the most troubled families, educational attainment and many other fundamental issues which can give people a stake in society and prevent such disorder from happening again.”
ShadowHome Secretary Yvette Cooper said the report showed “the government needs to act urgently to deliver the
support David Cameron promised to victims and communities.”
The panel intends to publish its final report in March 2012.