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

Home Affairs Committee: Evidence Ev w79
If we do nothing through a lack of strength or because we fear it might make us unpopular, we must prepare
to face the consequences which, I have no doubt, will become more and more unpalatable over time.
November 2011
Written evidence submitted by E-ngage Development Ltd
I am writing to you following media reporting of the Home Office Select Committee and the issues around
the disorder in various parts of the country during August.
It appears that many of those in responsible positions in a number of organisations have been very quick to
point the finger at new technologies as being to blame.
With organisations such as the police struggling to deal with new technologies it seems they fail to
understand the opportunities available to them. They remain determined to rely solely upon existing methods
to engage the issues without seeing the opportunities and advantages that new technologies offer them.
Since 1992, when a serving police officer, I have had the opportunity to work with a number of organisations
committed to developing new solutions to existing issues using approaches that actively engage a wide range
of participants. This has resulted in a number of IT environments that offer police officers and others the
opportunity to actively engage with schools and the wider public in a safe and structured way that enables
collaboration in addressing issues that benefit from mutually agreed solutions.
Not only does the use of new technologies give students the opportunity to establish a relationship with the
police in what is effectively a social network environment with which they are very familiar, but it also enables
a very limited number of police officers to engage with large numbers of young people. This means resourcing
demands are very limited indeed.
This opportunity, which is available to the police service and other agencies, is rejected largely because it is
not understood, whereas in Australia our work with the police and other agencies has enabled a small team to
engage with over 25% of schools in that country. This has given the police the opportunity to encourage
positive citizenship in a very large proportion of the young people in the country. It has also led to the police
receiving significant information that has resulted in arrests, and given students a very favourable view of the
police as being contemporary, in touch and approachable, all qualities that the police would appear to want to
establish in the UK, but without seeming to be able to do so.
With financial restraints and increasing demands we all need to be creative in our approach to these important
matters, and recognising that there is no single solution, the need to explore all opportunities available
becomes imperative.
E-ngage has a team of former police officers, who have specialised in youth issues, teachers, youth workers
and other professionals with appropriate experience, who are readily available to bring their expertise to the
issues and can do so using highly innovative and cost effective means.
September 2011
Written evidence submitted by Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd
You may have seen reports in the media of our decision not to pursue claims under the Riot Damages Act
in relation to the civil disturbances in August but I wanted to let you know personally because of your role as
Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
We could have submitted claims totalling up to £l million but decided it would be wrong to place additional
financial and administrative burdens on police resources that are already under pressure. We think it is far
better to allow police forces to focus on claims made by small businesses.
We are supportive of the police service and have a number of partnership arrangements in place with them
around the country, for example we have 34 police bases within our stores, and our Employer Supported Police
pilot encourages our colleagues to become Special Constables and gives them time off to patrol and protect
their local communities. This is part of our commitment to the communities in which we operate.
We have also announced the extension of our Community Grants Fund by an additional £100,000. This
money will be given to Sainsbury's stores in the areas affected by the riots so that our store managers can help
rebuild their communities.
Part of the reason for us not pursuing claims under the RDA is that we did not want to see resources diverted
from front-line policing. As you will know, shoplifting and antisocial behaviour are not victimless crimes, nor
are they trivial, although it seems to us that they are often viewed that way. In addition across the retail sector
we have seen an increase in violence directed at shop workers, some of which goes unreported as the victims
do not think it worthwhile reporting the attacks as retail crime is perceived to be near the bottom of police
priorities.