THE Metropolitan police faces severe criticism for failing for control a shocking night of violence in North London, which has seen many homes and businesses destroyed by violent gangs. Around 300 people battled police in Tottenham, which saw looters break windows and steal from businesses in the area. A bus was also set on fire, as were two police cars, flats and shops, including a large Carpet Right department store. Today, the carnage on the streets of Tottenham shows the full implications of last night’s rioting, which Downing Street has called “totally unacceptable.”
Scotland Yard; still trying to defuse the severe criticism it has taken for the phone hacking scandal confirmed that 26 policeman were hurt in the trouble and 42 people have been arrested for a variety of offences. However, many local residents will feel that the police have not covered themselves in any glory once again.
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| BURNT: The remains of a police car before it was attacked last night |
The trouble began in the area on Thursday night, when a father of four, Mark Duggan was shot dead by police near Tottenham Hale tube station. It was believed that Duggan had possession of a gun at the time. Tension was rising in the community and yesterday, a peaceful demonstration outside Tottenham police station took place involving family and friends of Duggan. Approximately 150 people marched in the protest. However, as darkness fell, the disorder began, with two police cars parked not far away from the station on Forster Road set alight by angry protestors that seemed only interested in causing chaos. The carnage spread onto the corner of Brook Street and Tottenham High Road, where the Carpet Right shop was smashed into, looted, and then set on fire. So too was a double-decker bus. An Aldi supermarket was also torched and burnt to the ground by the angry mob.
Today in Tottenham Hale Retail Park, Sky News has caught sensational footage of at least five, possibly more people looting the JD Sports shop in broad daylight, taking trainers and bags of clothing at their disposal, with remarkably, no police. Eyewitnesses are reported to have seen laptops and televisions taken from a nearby PC World shop too. Despite all these blunders by the Metropolitan police, Home Office secretary Theresa May continues to back the under-fire force;
“I condemn utterly the violence in Tottenham last night. Such disregard for public safety and property will not be tolerated and the Metropolitan Police have my full support in restoring order.”
Adrian Hanstock, a commissioner for the police said; “The death of Mark Duggan was absolutely regrettable. A peaceful demonstration was hijacked by a small number of a criminal element that used the event for their own gain. We kept a dignified presence at the vigil. Our preparation was in place and the contingence we had needed to be proportionate to the levels of concern we had in the community.”
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| FIRE: Shops were targeted, including an Aldi supermarket |
An enquiry into last night’s trouble has already begun and it will be interesting to see what evidence is found. Although the actions of the rioters last night can’t be condemned and the violence is utterly disgraceful – to wreck people’s homes and businesses in totally unacceptable, the failings to control the possibility of trouble, especially in such a hostile community over the past 48 hours staggers even myself. Fingers crossed this is the last of the trouble in Tottenham, though I fear more might come.
