Commons report on riots gets backing from Dee Doocey (Stephen Clarke)

Commons report on riots gets backing from Dee Doocey

December 19, 2011 10:58 AM
Originally published by London Assembly Liberal Democrats

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson and member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, commenting on the publication today of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report on the August riots said:

"There is much in this report that is very welcome, especially its call for extra support to be offered to businesses, both before and after public disorder incidents take place.

"The Committee is also right to call for the Met and other police forces to receive assistance in meeting the cost of the policing operation. It is absolutely essential that the Government fully reimburses the Met for the costs of this operation.

"I also welcome the Committee view that they cannot support the use of water cannon and baton rounds as in their view it would have been both inappropriate as well as dangerous to use last August."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The House of Commons Home Affairs report recommends:

"All police forces should have a communication strategy in place so that if it is decided that there is a credible threat of severe public disorder, all businesses in the area are given early and consistent advice about what action they should take. This did not take place in August."

"The Government should speed up the process of reimbursing people under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886."

"The Government should urgently clarify whether police authorities will be able to recover the total cost of policing the riots. The August disturbances were an exceptional series of events and, at a time when police authorities are being asked to make significant savings quickly, they should be assisted in meeting the cost of the policing operation."

"It is our view that in the situation then prevailing, it would have been inappropriate as well as dangerous, to have employed water cannon baton rounds."