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| Riot victims showed resilience but too many were failed by the state | Riot victims showed resilience but too many were failed by the state |
| (6 days later) | |
| The August riots left the most extraordinary trail of destruction. Businesses broken into, smashed and looted. Property damaged or destroyed. As the second phase of the Reading the Riots project documents, the consequence was lives substantially affected, and in many cases irreparably altered. | The August riots left the most extraordinary trail of destruction. Businesses broken into, smashed and looted. Property damaged or destroyed. As the second phase of the Reading the Riots project documents, the consequence was lives substantially affected, and in many cases irreparably altered. |
| The independent riots communities and victims panel estimated that the total cost of the disorder was likely to be in excess of £500m, including more than £300m in lost sales to businesses. More than 2,500 commercial premises were hit – more than half the total official crime tally – as well as 664 individuals and 231 domestic premises. Electrical and clothing stores were the most commonly targeted shops. | The independent riots communities and victims panel estimated that the total cost of the disorder was likely to be in excess of £500m, including more than £300m in lost sales to businesses. More than 2,500 commercial premises were hit – more than half the total official crime tally – as well as 664 individuals and 231 domestic premises. Electrical and clothing stores were the most commonly targeted shops. |
| Anyone reading the accounts given to the researchers by riot victims cannot help but be moved by the emotion and desolation they often display. "We put all our effort into that shop – 12 years into the business totally to build it up, and it just went to rubble," said the co-owners of a Birmingham jewellers. | Anyone reading the accounts given to the researchers by riot victims cannot help but be moved by the emotion and desolation they often display. "We put all our effort into that shop – 12 years into the business totally to build it up, and it just went to rubble," said the co-owners of a Birmingham jewellers. |
| Yet in many cases the stories are incredibly positive. One of the strongest and possibly most unexpected themes is the resilience that people showed and continue to show in the face of losing their livelihoods, homes and, in the words of many, their future. Far from "broken Britain", the overwhelming picture is of a social order that was resolute and quickly found ways to reassert itself. | Yet in many cases the stories are incredibly positive. One of the strongest and possibly most unexpected themes is the resilience that people showed and continue to show in the face of losing their livelihoods, homes and, in the words of many, their future. Far from "broken Britain", the overwhelming picture is of a social order that was resolute and quickly found ways to reassert itself. |
| The interviews with people who have sometimes been referred to as vigilantes – those who came out on to the streets of London, Birmingham and elsewhere to protect life and property – contain some similar sentiments. In many cases, they too were victims. | The interviews with people who have sometimes been referred to as vigilantes – those who came out on to the streets of London, Birmingham and elsewhere to protect life and property – contain some similar sentiments. In many cases, they too were victims. |
| Their actions were prompted by a recognition of the danger they, their families and neighbours faced, and an awareness of the limited ability of the police to control the disorder. Sometimes they were successful; often they too suffered significant losses to businesses or other property. From Hackney to Handsworth, it was impossible to avoid the sense that this was an expression of that much misused word "community" in action. | Their actions were prompted by a recognition of the danger they, their families and neighbours faced, and an awareness of the limited ability of the police to control the disorder. Sometimes they were successful; often they too suffered significant losses to businesses or other property. From Hackney to Handsworth, it was impossible to avoid the sense that this was an expression of that much misused word "community" in action. |
| An important question remains: could more have been done to protect the victims of the riots? Certainly, many felt a greater police presence should have been available. | An important question remains: could more have been done to protect the victims of the riots? Certainly, many felt a greater police presence should have been available. |
| Reading the Riots has documented in detail the extent to which the police service was stretched and in some areas too slow to deploy sufficient officers to keep or restore order. The police themselves recognise this, and it seems certain that one outcome of the riots will be a greater readiness to call on large numbers of public-order-trained officers, should further unrest occur on anything like a similar scale. | Reading the Riots has documented in detail the extent to which the police service was stretched and in some areas too slow to deploy sufficient officers to keep or restore order. The police themselves recognise this, and it seems certain that one outcome of the riots will be a greater readiness to call on large numbers of public-order-trained officers, should further unrest occur on anything like a similar scale. |
| However, there is a limit to what the police can achieve in these circumstances. We have argued strongly that the principal tactical decision taken by the police during the riots – to prioritise life over property – was the correct one, and very much in line with the best traditions of British policing. | However, there is a limit to what the police can achieve in these circumstances. We have argued strongly that the principal tactical decision taken by the police during the riots – to prioritise life over property – was the correct one, and very much in line with the best traditions of British policing. |
| Once one adopts this approach, however, then it is quite likely – possibly inevitable – that large-scale civil disorder will result in significant material losses, and that there will be many victims in need of support and help in the immediate aftermath. | Once one adopts this approach, however, then it is quite likely – possibly inevitable – that large-scale civil disorder will result in significant material losses, and that there will be many victims in need of support and help in the immediate aftermath. |
| This is where, once again, the state must step in. The only way of sustaining a form of policing that uses the least aggressive tactics feasible in the face of widespread disorder is to ensure the state has the capacity and will to protect its citizens in other ways. | This is where, once again, the state must step in. The only way of sustaining a form of policing that uses the least aggressive tactics feasible in the face of widespread disorder is to ensure the state has the capacity and will to protect its citizens in other ways. |
| It is something of a scandal, therefore – perhaps the greatest scandal arising out of the official response to the riots – that the state has signally failed victims in such great numbers. The revelation that less than half of those who made claims under the Riot Damages Act have received any compensation is a terrible indictment of the current system for repair of the social fabric under such unusual circumstances. | It is something of a scandal, therefore – perhaps the greatest scandal arising out of the official response to the riots – that the state has signally failed victims in such great numbers. The revelation that less than half of those who made claims under the Riot Damages Act have received any compensation is a terrible indictment of the current system for repair of the social fabric under such unusual circumstances. |
| This is all the more the case given that victims of the riots were the one group to whom the government showed a particular commitment. In addition to the establishment of the aforementioned communities and victims panel to examine how greater social and economic resilience could be built, the prime minister made the following pledge to victims: "We will help you repair the damage, get your businesses up and running, and help you to restore your local communities." | This is all the more the case given that victims of the riots were the one group to whom the government showed a particular commitment. In addition to the establishment of the aforementioned communities and victims panel to examine how greater social and economic resilience could be built, the prime minister made the following pledge to victims: "We will help you repair the damage, get your businesses up and running, and help you to restore your local communities." |
| Expressions of sympathy for the victims of crime and disorder are relatively easy to make. The extent to which the state enables them to rebuild their livelihoods, their homes, and to recover their futures – in practical and measurable ways – is perhaps a better indicator of how seriously we take their plight. | Expressions of sympathy for the victims of crime and disorder are relatively easy to make. The extent to which the state enables them to rebuild their livelihoods, their homes, and to recover their futures – in practical and measurable ways – is perhaps a better indicator of how seriously we take their plight. |
| Tim Newburn is professor of criminology and social policy at the London School of Economics | Tim Newburn is professor of criminology and social policy at the London School of Economics |
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