Policing Large Scale Disorder: Lessons from the disturbances of ...

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Home Affairs Committee: Evidence Ev w55 There seemed to be agreement that the immediate steps were to clean up Croydon and compensate those who need it. More long term solutions to the problems involved included suggestions such as: the police need to engage with the community in a more positive way, and the youth need more services provided to them. Croydon Xpress, Young Peoples BIG Debate Event Young people from Croydon’s Xpress project chaired a debate about the Croydon riots on Thursday 1 September 2011. Hosted at the CVA Resource Centre, West Croydon, residents were invited to put questions to a panel which included Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks, Councillor Sara Bashford who was representing Gavin Barwell MP, and Chief Inspector Mark Nanji. Chief Inspector Nanji revealed less than 100 police officers were on the streets on 8 August, out of a force of approximately 700 officers. He denied claims Croydon police had been “caught with their trousers down,” and were unable to deal with major problems, instead praising his officers for their bravery. Malcolm Wicks MP, repeated his call for a “minute by minute” inquiry into what he described as a “policing failure,” and said the Government were wrong to go ahead with police cuts. Just under 100 people attended the debate and there appeared to be a general consensus that there has been a communication failure between young people and authorities including the police and council. Participants suggested that to move forward, such authorities would have to listen to young people and provide more for them to do. Other people on the panel included Mikey Sivwa from Lives not Knives, Dione Whyte a teacher and parent from Croydon, Mikel Ameen from youth organisation GetFamilyar, PC Linda Allen from Croydon Police Partnership and Hannah Williamson from the Croydon Guardian. Pictures available on request. Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Youth Engagement Training This summer an innovative project will see a youth project working with local police designed to develop awareness around PCSOs and youngsters in the borough Funded by the Croydon Police Properties Fund the Croydon Xpress Project. Part of the Croydon Voluntary Action Community Involvement team, are currently in the process of engaging over a hundred young people to find out what issues, concerns and experiences they, or their friends, have of the PCSO service. All feedback will be used to design a 2 hour training workshop for the borough’s 30 PCSO’s whose department has the most contact with children and young people. The workshop will include demonstration of the HYPE Tool (How Young People Evaluate) and offer officers good practice methods whilst engaging with young people. The Xpress team have involved a wide range of young people from across the borough by randomly interviewing and filming young people on buses, trains, trams and at transport interchange points in Central and West Croydon and at the recent New Addington Carnival. Young people who attended Croydon Youth Council and the Police Youth Think Tank were also included. The Xpress Team also held two planning focus groups, one for PCSO’s and the other was for young people to address some of the barriers and safety concerns relating to transport for young people and PCSO’s. Georgia Leher, Croydon Xpress Worker said, “Initial findings showed that the PCSO’s and young people were both striving for the same thing ‘RESPECT’. Due to the lack of respect on both sides this has lead to a lack of trust in each other. There is a very strong message coming from young people about being pigeonholed by PCSO’s. They feel that the officer’s approach carries along with it an underlining sense of being stereotyped and prejudged.” A suggestion giving by young people was for PCSO’s to treat every encounter with a young person as a new experience. 76% of young people agreed that they do indeed treat PCSO’s differently to Police officers. When the PCSO’s role was explained the majority of young people said that this new information altered their view and voiced that this also needs to be told to all young people To help bridge the gap between PCSO’s and the young generation, young people suggested for PSCO’s to engage in simple every day colloquial conversation with young people on the streets simply by saying “hi”, “how are you?” instead of talking to them only about crime and disorder. This friendly approach of dialogue would start to rebuild relationships between the two. Nicole Beckford, Project Coordinator said “The PCSO’s spoke about situations when young people disrespected them and implied that they had no authority. PCSO’s felt that young people had a lack of understanding to the purpose of their role.” September 2011
Ev w56 Home Affairs Committee: Evidence Written evidence submitted by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council The paper does not contain information about Police operational tactics but this can be provided, of course, if it is wanted. 1. Context 1.1 Bradford has often been a focus for national media and commentators’ attention when public disorder has been experienced in any UK cities. This has led to articles being published assessing how far the city and district has changed since 2001 when the Bradford riots occurred. There is now growing national interest from Police and Local Authorities in other areas of the country, who are keen to be involved in “peer learning” about the Bradford approach to safeguarding communities and businesses at times of heightened tension. 1.2 Obviously we cannot, and will not ever, be complacent about our ability to ensure public safety in our city / town centres and to deal robustly with crime across our district. However we do have confidence in the strength, breadth and effectiveness of our partnership working between West Yorkshire Police, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and key organisations across the local public, private and third sectors. 1.3 It is this mature relationship of “virtual”, integrated service strategic planning and delivery that, we believe, has played a significant role in keeping Bradford District safe and calm, not only during the recent public disorder in some English cities but also during the English Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) protests which took place in our city on 28 August 2010. 2. The Bradford Response During the Recent Public Disorder and Riots Experienced in some English Cities 2.1 As the recent disturbances across the United Kingdom were unfolding, there were comprehensive regular update briefings from the Chief Constable to make sure the Leader of the Council, Leaders of the Opposition Groups, the Council’s Chief Executive and the Chief Superintendents were kept fully informed. The district’s MPs were also briefed, of course. Police and Council colleagues were in regular communication, across all levels, as is standard practice anyway in Bradford District. Police Authority Members, key community contacts such as opinion formers and critical friends were consulted and local soundings were also taken on a frequent basis to provide a two way flow of relevant, timely and accurate information. This included Independent Advisory Groups (IAG), faith organisations and community representatives. 2.2 Throughout the period of this public disorder in several English cities and towns, senior officers from both Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police worked in close partnership reviewing the intelligence and the situation of Bradford District in relation to any potential local issues. The results showed that there were no issues that impacted upon tensions significantly within Bradford District and this was communicated appropriately. 2.3 Community engagement and communication was and is a key aspect of this partnership working to provide reassurance to both local businesses and communities and to share understanding of the position across the district amongst key organisations. Consistent, timely and appropriate key messages were communicated by the Police, councillors, and representatives of community groups and partner organisations throughout the period of public disorder in some other cities and towns. In particular, the Bradford Chamber of Commerce was contacted and assisted in delivering reassurance messages to local businesses after some national chains took the decision to board up their stores, as part of their own policy. Neighbourhood Policing Officers were also briefed with key messages to assure the public of their continued presence. We were clear that a calm Bradford could demonstrate how far we have moved on since 2001 and show the maturity and civic responsibility of our communities. The surge in Bradfordian public satisfaction with and confidence in the Police during the last year, following their approach to managing the protests of August 2010, was very significant in influencing the attitudes and behaviour of local people in the context of the public disorder elsewhere. 2.4 Contingency plans were produced and updated continuingly in order that should the situation change, the partnership would be in a position to respond in an appropriate and proportionate manner without delay. Police also liaised closely with the National Community Tension Team throughout. Planning work is ongoing to identify forthcoming events and festivals, assessing any potential impacts. For instance, prior to and during Ramadan both the Police and the Council work with the Muslim Community through the Council for Mosques in Bradford and Mosques Committees in Keighley to establish the appropriate policing style, taking into account any current issues on both a local and national level. 2.5 The partnership work that was undertaken to deal with the English Defence League protest on the 28 August 2010 in Bradford has been continually improved and strengthened over the last year and this proved invaluable in responding to the national context of public disorder.
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