Timeline of aftermath of 2011 England riots
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In August 2011, the UK was shaken by its worst riots in decades. This is a timeline of aftermath of 2011 England riots. Thursday, 11 August Incidents *Banbury: Arsonists were thought to be responsible for three fires in Banbury in less than a 24 hour period, involving a burning car in Waterworks Road near Hennef Way, a fire in a skip to the rear of a house in Bretch Hill and the Pepper Pot in Grimsbury where a recycling bin had been set alight. * Dunstable: The Norman King pub, a building in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, that dates back to 1109, was destroyed after being set on fire in an arson attack, though police have did not link the incident to riots occurring elsewhere in the country, after initial public fears were allayed. Political and legal response Parliament was recalled from its summer recess. This day's debate included the longest question time ever. David Cameron told lawmakers there would be no "culture of fear" on Britain's streets, and that the government would consider taking gang-fighting tips from American cities such as Boston. He mentioned former Los Angeles and New York Police Chief Bill Bratton as someone who could offer advice. He said he also wanted to build on the success of programmes to tackle gang culture, such as the task force used by Strathclyde Police. Both Theresa May and David Cameron also accused the Metropolitan Police service and the West Midlands Police force of being "too few, too slow, too timid" during the rioting in London and the West Midlands county. He said the police on the streets of London were to few and used poor and incorrect tactics when dealing with the rioters. Cameron said that the government, police and intelligence services were also looking at whether there should be limits on the use of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook or services such as BlackBerry Messenger to spread organised disorder, and whether to turn off social networks or stop people texting during times of social unrest. Gareth Thomas, the MP for Harrow West, returned from a holiday to attend a special parliamentary debate in the House of Commons, where he raised the issue of policing related budget cuts. ;London Borough of Hillingdon Police were praised for their efforts in preventing riots occurring in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Police manned positions in Uxbridge High Street and Hayes Town. However one unspecified crime occurred in the Tesco on Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon town, which was closed and cordoned off by police this morning. Arrests The number of people arrested in London rose to 922 since trouble began and 401 suspects had been charged. Friday, 12 August Political and legal response Ed Miliband promised to push forward a government riots inquiry as he visited the Karibu education centre in Brixton. The Prime Minister promised to use the Riot Damages Act, to cover uninsured facilities and buildings and set up a £20,000,000 fund for High Street businesses to use relief following riots. Arrests Of more than one thousand people arrested during the three days of troubles in London, about six hundred had been charged by 12 August. IPCC investigation The IPCC watchdog has admitted that it inadvertently led media to believe shots were exchanged and that Mark Duggan was carrying a gun that was never used. Saturday, 13 August Political and legal response Police forces around England, and especially those in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham increased their numbers on the streets. The former chief of police in New York City and Los Angeles, Bill Bratton, was announced by the PM’s office to be David Cameron’s new crime adviser. Sunday, 14 August Political and legal response In the morning David Cameron called for a zero tolerance strategy towards crime in London and Birmingham. By the afternoon, Home Secretary Theresa May had hit back at senior police chiefs who criticised earlier remarks by her and David Cameron that the riot police had been too timid. Later, Theresa May offered her support to the nation’s riot police teams. Scotland Yard's acting Commissioner, Tim Godwin, was stated saying that the "inconsistency" from ministers over level of persuasive force the police were expected to use in riots following controversial allegations of heavy-handedness during the G20 protests in 2009. The former deputy chief constable of the North Wales Police constabulary has criticised plans for the American "super cop", Bill Bratton, to advise the government on Urban gangs and policing, following the riots in England. The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, said that a home-grown policing model would be best for Britain rather than hiring Bill Bratton. Public response An estimated 2,000 people joined a vigil in Summerfield Park and laid flowers in memory of three men who died protecting shops from looters in Winson Green, Birmingham. They were victims of a hit and run attack. Arrests Scotland Yard stated that 2,140 people have been arrested, of whom about 1,000 have been charged. Monday, 15 August Political and legal response Both David Cameron and Ed Milliband discussed how to tackle future riot problems. Ed Miliband said every one bore a share of responsibility for the society we create, whilst David Cameron pushed the concept of the Big Society. Tuesday, 16 August Political and legal response Deputy PM, Nick Clegg, said that the government would set up an independent "community and victims panel" to look into the worst riots England has seen in more than two decades. He pledged that when an offender who leaves prison from March 2012 they will be met by providers on the Work Programme at the prison gate. Home secretary, Theresa May said she was in favour of giving police the right to issue curfews, banish people from trouble spots and create "No go zones" in troubled places. Human rights groups condemned it as headline grabbing and draconian. Prime Minister David Cameron attacked the abuse of state welfare and disability allowances in a speech in his constituency of Whitney. Arrests A 16 year old from Hounslow will be tried at the Old Bailey, after being charged with the murder of Richard Mannington Bowes as well as violent disorder and four counts of burglary relating to the looting at a William Hill bookmakers, a Tesco Express, a Blockbuster video shop and a Fatboys restaurant. Martin McRobb, the Crown Advocate for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, read out in Chester court that "Jordan Blackshaw and Perry Sutcliffe independently and from the safety of their homes may have thought that it would be acceptable to set up a Facebook page to incite others to take part in disorders in Cheshire." Cheshire Constabulary had discovered that they used a Facebook group that Jordan Blackshaw had created to promote the rioting. Jordan Blackshaw was from Northwich and Perry Sutcliffe was from Warrington. Wednesday, 17 August Political and legal response The sentencing of Jordan Blackshaw and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan drew much criticism. The Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East, David Ward, described government plans to withdraw benefits from convicted rioters as "nuts". David Cameron defended the scheme. Royal response The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have visited areas of London, including the Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, which was transformed into an aid centre in the aftermath of the rioting. Arrests The local court heard Cheshire Police officers say that they discovered a Facebook event entitled "Smash Down Northwich Town" created by Jordan Blackshaw and his mate Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, both were jailed for 4 years, which human rights groups called disproportionate and horrific. David Cameron defended the sentences. Friday, 19 August Political and legal response The Work and Pensions Secretary, Ian Duncan Smith told the Spectator Magazine he wanted to free up the economy by reforming the welfare state. Saturday, 20 August Political and legal response West Midlands Police release pictures of gunmen 4 shooting at cops in both Birmingham and Wolverhampton. A police helicopter was shot at in the Newton part of Birmingham. Tony Blair denies that "Moral decline" had occurred in the UK as a whole. He chose to blame disillusioned youths, gang culture, antisocial behavior, organized crime, persistent offenders and other social blights.
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