Tottenham Riot. Could it happen elsewhere?





This was a London Double Deck Bus.....

You will have seen the harrowing television footage from the protest, riots and mindless looting in Tottenham North London (Haringey Council) last night, many residents not connected with events, had to flee their homes and have literally lost everything as buildings were torched and burnt down.

The incidents all happened late last night and too late for the Sunday newspapers. The cause of the initial unrest related to a shooting by police officers last Thursday when a local man, 29 year old, Mark Duggan, allegedly armed, died.  No one is certain at this stage who fired first, but clearly when firearms are being used, the outcome can often be tragic and certainly final.

The shooting is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission [IPCC], it was an automatic immediate referral, but the frustration in the Tottenham community seems to be that due to the investigation process, no immediate information could be released to the family of the deceased, but a Tweet earlier today, from the IPCC claims a meeting was held with the Duggan family on Saturday and another scheduled for later today Sunday, but what it does all underline is the need for fast, credible and efficient local communications and maintaining continuing understanding between all sectors of the community or neighbourhood.

Hopefully locally in Stanground and Park Farm, Peterborough,  we have repeatedly demonstrated the power of local immediate informed communication and the clear values of working closely with our neighbourhood policing teams, and the valuable local knowledge they have built up.

Even so there is still a small section of our community who "simply don't get it" or just choose "not to get it. "  It also has to be said that when the initial disturbances happened in Tottenham, politicians were falling over themselves to get on TV, but now that the incidents have happened, the 'national' politicans this Sunday morning are now strangely silent and thin on the ground. Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy (born in Peterborough) did however break ranks, and in a series of soundbites, claimed the community had been broken and that 'the looters and robbers' were from outside the area and were summoned via Twitter.

Simply police rehearse responses to a variety of major incidents and it is fair to assume they have worked out plans which can (when funding permits) be switched into operation.  The lessons to be learned for our own City are clear, we have a vibrant well established multi ethnic population. It was not part of any deliberate plan, but has evolved, families in most areas of the City, feel safe here, and that is how it should remain. It needs all of us to 'buy in' to the concept.

Simply, we can all learn from each other, in Tottenham several youth clubs closed down one after the other, the reasons given - lack of leaders, volunteers and lack of continuing funding and the younger generation seemingly left frustrated and disenfranchised with nowhere to go. Social Media in 2011, quickly fills the void and Gangs cynically mop up the disaffected, rapidly organise and move into position by the power of Twitter, Facebook and Smartphones.

There is also a constant need for information on crime and clearly some people are not prepared to deal directly with police or council officials, for these people, can we suggest  they use Crimestoppers, the anonymous crime reporting freephone line on 0800 555 111? Where information can be quickly passed on by the charity to the most appropriate source.

Metropolitan Police Commander Adrian Hanstock said this morning that a small peaceful demonstration, more a vigil, last night was deliberately hijacked by 'mindless criminal thugs' looters and others not connected with the earlier peaceful demonstation. Police had deliberately maintained a low profile during the vigil, and escalated response in line with the increasing level of violence (around Midnight). Resources were called in from neighbouring areas and further resources are being deployed today . Currently 42 are in custody and 26 police officers are injured/in hospital.



Clearly the thoughts and wishes of our Stanground and Park Farm Community are firmly with the people of Tottenham, in what is a very difficult time for all concerned.

Julian Bray

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.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 (C)Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch 2011, Peterborough,UK E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS on FREEPHONE 0800 555 111 **** Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, an independent of police charity, will anonymously take and pass on confidential information on crime, knife crime and domestic violence. **** >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722&ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW