‘Don’t compare London riots to Ulster’
PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PICTURES OF THE RIOT IN TOTTENHAM TAKEN SATURDAY AUGUST 6. Riot police patrol the streets in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday August 8, 2011. The riots saw buildings and vehicles set alight, including two patrol cars, a police van and a double-decker bus, and shops looted as police in riot gear arrived on the scene. See PA story POLICE Shooting. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire
THE PSNI has said comparisons should not be drawn between public disorder across the province last month and recent rioting in north London.
The force was responding to questions put to it by the News Letter, which asked how it could justify making fewer arrests over a longer period of time than the Metropolitan Police made in just two days.
Officers in London had arrested over 160 people following rioting in Tottenham on Saturday and Sunday night, compared with only 73 arrests made by the PSNI in connection with trouble in Northern Ireland in July that included serious rioting in Ardoyne and east Belfast where firearms were used and a press photographer was shot in the leg.
A PSNI spokesman said: “The PSNI are fully committed to carrying out a robust, thorough and painstaking investigation into the incidents of disorder in July.
“To date there have been 73 arrests in connection with disorder across Northern Ireland and 60 of those have been charged. Further arrests are hoped for.
“Please note that these statistics change on a regular basis.”
He went on: “The PSNI cannot comment on the disorder in London other than to offer our support to our colleagues.
“No two events will be the same. PSNI public order policing takes place in a relatively unique operational environment.”
Clashes between masked rioters and police in Tottenham continued into the early hours of Monday morning and Scotland Yard had promised there would be more officers on the streets last night in anticipation of further violence.
Around 61 people were arrested following Saturday night’s violence and more than 100 after Sunday night.
Police also warned that Twitter users could face arrest for inciting violence.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh confirmed that officers were looking at the micro-blogging website as part of investigations into widespread looting in the area, which saw a jewellery store, Foot Locker and HMV vandalised and ransacked.
The violence followed what had begun as a peaceful protest at a Tottenham police station where crowds had gathered to demand answers following the killing of Mark Duggan, who was shot by a police officer on Thursday.
The family of 29-year-old Mr Duggan has since spoken out against the rioting, saying they do not condone such violence in his name.
Mr Duggan’s brother Shaun Hall told Sky News: “I know people are frustrated, they’re angry out there at the moment, but I would say please try and hold it down.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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