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News MPS Disorder Update for Businesses Friday 19th August 2011

 

Latest Information - Update

 

Policing in the London has been very much business as usual throughout the week aside from the continued engagement and reassurance activity being carried out by police and partners.

There will continue to be a substantial number of pubic order units on duty in London. These dedicated public order units will be supported by an enhanced response across all London Boroughs from officers and staff, Metropolitan Special Constabulary, Police Community Support Officers, and specialist investigative units.

The MPS response to the incidents of disorder continue to centre around:

 

Reassuring the local communities across London;

Sensitively securing the affected areas;

Pursuing those responsible for the disorder through our criminal investigations; and

Co-ordinating sufficient resources to ensure we are able to deal with any situations as they arise.

 

Arrests - Update

 

The Metropolitan Police Service has now arrested a total of 1802 people in connection with violence, disorder and looting. Of those arrested, a total of 1032 have been charged to date.

We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that cases are processed as quickly as possible. A large number of people have appeared in court and while some have already been convicted and received prison sentences, many cases have been remanded to Crown Court.

 

Investigation - Update

 

Detectives from Operation Withern are today releasing a further 39 images of people we would like to speak with in relation to the recent disorder in London.

Operation Withern's priority is to bring to justice those who have committed violent and criminal acts. As the detailed and thorough investigation progresses we will be issuing photographs of people who were in the vicinity of the disorder and who may be able to help officers with their enquiries. The images released today relate to the looting and violent disorder in Lewisham, Wandsworth, Croydon, Haringey, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets on Saturday 6th and Monday 8th August.

Flickr is hosting the photos so that the public can help the Metropolitan Police Service identify those who committed violent and criminal acts on London's streets.

Please visit the website address below to see if you are able to help identify anyone:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metropolitanpolice/

You can also view the images at: http://www.met.police.uk/disordersuspects/

  

We continue to appeal for witnesses and information in relation to the disorder across London. Anyone with information relating to any aspect of the incident is asked to contact the Operation Withern incident room on 020 8345 4142.

Alternatively, if you feel unable to speak to the police direct, you can report a crime and provide information anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

 

This newsletter is being produced for the benefit of the whole of the business community. If there are any areas of advice or subject matter that you would like to see included in future issues please contact us via:

CommunitiesTogether@met.police.uk

 

Supporting businesses and the community - Update

 

There have been some excellent examples of good partnership activity on boroughs to support businesses and the wider communities that have been affected by the recent disorder. One again, we would like to thank members of the business community for their continue support of the MPS.

 

An example of some of the partnership activity taking place across London includes:

 

Camden: Volunteer Police Cadets patrolling the Camden High Street / Chalk Farm Road area that was subject to incidents of disorder last week. They received funding from B&Q DIY stores and are looking to buy and plant flowers, plants etc, to make the area look nice again, whilst shops are still boarded up.

 

Southwark: There have been additional reassurance patrols by police for local shops to provide one-to-one support and advice on how concerns can be resolved. Some shop owners have expressed concerns about shoplifters following the disorder and officers have helped by making referrals to Southwark's anti social behaviour unit for added support.                                                                           

 

Newham: Many of the businesses, who donated food, drink and rest areas for officers during the disorder have received a personal visit from the Borough Commander Sean Vickers to convey his gratitude. Visits by local Safer Neighbourhoods teams and/or the investigating officer have also been taking place to provide additional support and reassurance. Special local ward panel meetings have also been arranged for local businesses and residents, with plans being made to host a youth group meeting.     

 

Lewisham: Acting borough commander Lisa Crook has thanked local businesses for their generosity during the disorder at Lewisham. During a week of unprecedented criminality many businesses including Sainsburys, Nandos, Halal butchers, the Turkish Food Centre and the XLP Centre - an urban youth charity - donated food, drink and places of rest for officers.                                                

 

Croydon: Project YOU, which brings together uniformed youth organisations in London, including the Met’s Volunteer Police cadets, met at the Croydon Voluntary Action HQ in London Road (scene of some of the greatest damage) to paint boarded premises with inspirational words and scenes, assist with sorting and delivering items donated by members of the community to displaced residents, hand out leaflets to advertise an open community meeting in the evening and generally offer their services to small businesses in London Road.

 

There have also been daily update briefings at 11:30am for Croydon businesses in the Town Centre. These have been hosted by one of the larger landowners and led by John Rouse, Chief Executive of Croydon Council. The meetings have enabled key messages to be delivered in person both from the police and the local authority.

The daily briefings, which were welcomed by the Community Watch for Businesses, also provided an opportunity for Croydon businesses to be updated on the latest developments in the police investigation, and to discuss any learning’s that can be taken forward.

 

Haringey: Volunteer Police Cadets helped paint and decorate boarded up shop fronts on Tottenham High Road, creating a ‘Peace Wall’ as has been done in Peckham and Manchester, to help unite the community, with the help of donations from B&Q and Waitrose.

 

Lambeth: In Lambeth members of the Met’s Volunteer Police cadets distributed plants and planters donated by the local B&Q, to the worst affected and most vulnerable residents and business owners.

An investigation is currently underway following a fire reported on Tuesday in the basement of the Footlocker store, Brixton Road/ Atlantic Road, Brixton. This same building was subject to a fire during last week’s disorder. Whist the cause has not yet been determined, it is believed to be a fire that has been smouldering since last week’s disorder incidents.

 

Government Support Scheme for small and medium sized businesses - Update

 

Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs

fire that has been smouldering since last week’s disorder incidents.

 

Government Support Scheme for small and medium sized businesses - Update

 

Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) affected by the recent public disorders can now benefit from a new £20 million High Street Support Scheme.

The Government is making the funding available through local authorities to help SMEs and high streets get back on their feet following the disturbances.

The scheme will support businesses facing cash flow problems whilst they wait for insurance or other claims to be met. It will also help companies with non-refundable exceptional business expenses, and aims to help rebuild business confidence in affected areas.

 

To qualify for this support, businesses must:

 

·          be small or medium sized enterprises i.e. independents with less than 250   

      employees worldwide and an annual turnover of less than £11.2 million    

                    

·         have been based in an area affected by recent disorder between 6-11 August, and

 

·         have suffered losses as a direct result.

 

Businesses should contact their local authority to make a claim. More detailed information about the High Street Support Scheme and

other help for businesses is available at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/

 

The Communities and Local Government website also has details of the support packages being made available for businesses:

 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1964311