17/10/2011 Inside Out London

the confidence of Londoners? Inside Out has carried out its own poll to

discover if Londoners' faith in the police has been dented and also to

find out how we would like to see riots policed in the future.

Paraic O'Brien reports. This was the first experience I've

had where I felt there was a sense of malice towards the police. I

didn't know whether I was going home or going to the hospital at

the end of it. You ring the police and fire brigade expecting some

sort of are response and nothing happens. You feel totally exposed

and vulnerable. How would you describe how they managed the riots

here? There was no management during the riots. It was more or

less, let them do what they want. The August riots stretched the

Metropolitan Police to near breaking point.

Across the capital, almost every available officer was deployed to

deal with it. The Met faced accusations they

weren't doing their job properly. They seem ineffectual. They have

been warning me to get out of the way, while I was doing nothing,

while people are burning the place to the ground. Almost as soon as

the chaos ended, the Met launched an internal review. What about

Londoners? Do they think the Met did a good job? Would they trust

them to protect them against future riots? We surveyed Londons over 16

in late September. We asked whether they think the Met do a good or

For some, whose homes and businesses were caught newspaper

the riots, faith in the police has been all -- caught up in the riots,

faith in the police has been all but destroyed. Some residential

streets were left exposed. We have cars exploding. A car parked across

the road, a BMW, set ablaze. When and how did it dawn on you the

police weren't going to show? about an hour-and-a-half after I

phoneded them and several of my neighbours had. Three Transit Vans

of them made a line across the street over there. The rioters sort

of came up here to meet them. They were hurling great rocks and bricks

at them. I heard a police tpwie say, "Back in the -- guy say, Back in

the van." And they drove away. their own safety? Well, there in

lies the question. I don't know! The Met's internal review will not

just discover whether mistakes were made in August. It could completely

transform the way riots are controlled. Lynne Owens takes the

lead on public order policing at the Met. We need to understand

whether we should have had more people available to us. That is

part of our review process. On the night itself, from the very early

stages, we were calling more officers from across London. Very

quickly managed to get more there. Unfortunately not quickly enough.

One of those riot-trained officers was PC Paul Warner. Drafted in from

South London to help in Tottenham on the first night. How many

officers were on the street before you arrived? 12. 12 officers?

Correct. They were taking the full force of several hundred angry

people who were trying to do them harm.

The first thing which hit me was a sensory overload. You had these

figures silhouetted against the flames of the fires they had

started. You had the smell of the petrol and the buildings on fire

and this mass of chanting and shouting. Were you afraid? Yes.

No shame to admit that. It was unlike anything I had seen before.

The first large item that hit my riot shield split it in two. So, I

was left with half a shield for most of the night. Why did you not

get enough officers out there in time? The fundamental question is:

Does officers to respond to that type? It is one of the things we

are looking at. If you ask me for my instinctive reaction, based on

events, I would say, I think we should have more. Ass the riots

escalated the Met did increase the number of officers on the ground.

Some residents decided they still could not rely on the police, so

took things into their own hands. Towns folk on the move in even

field, followed by the police. We're here to help the police. We

do believe, don't we, there ripbt enough of them. In Southall the

Sikh community turned out in force to protect the temple and the

surrounding neighbourhood. It was to protect the temple, we were

protecting the neighbourhood, so no attack should take place in

Southall. Police were stretched so much. They didn't have the

resources, the man power. We said if anything happens we will inform

you and after that we will leave it to you. Leave it to you to make the

arrests. The people protecting the Southall Temple never turned to

violence. Our opinion poll found two-thirds of Londoners think local

people should be allowed to use violence to protect their

communities and property in any future riots. We should be clear,

there is often much said about the law in this area. Anybody can use

reasonable force to protect themselves or to prevent a crime.

What we would say, going forward, is actually we would like to

encourage people to come forward and join us in a voluntary mood. --

mode. We have special constableers. People who view CCTV for us.

Met received over 600 applications from Londoners wanting to become

special constables. That is almost three times the average. One of the

strongest criticisms levelled against the Met is they didn't use

the toughest tactics available to them.

The police are already authorised to use baton rounds. We agreed at

COBRA, while they are not currently needed, we have put in place

contingency plan for water cannon to be available. This would have

been the first time that water cannon or rubber bullets have ever

been used on the British mainland. We did have baton rounds available

on that night. I fully support the Gold Commander's decision, which

was not to deploy them. All I would say is had we shot a 14-year-old in

the back when he was running away, I think we would have having

different conversation now. Londoners broadly agree with the

decision not to use rubber bullets. Only 38% of people were in favour

of using them in future riots. There was wide support for water

cannon. 72% agreed with their yuz in future riots. We don't actually

have a water cannon on the mainland in this country. If you had had one,

would you have used it? On that Saturday night, I do think there is

a good likelihood that may have been something we would have chosen

to use. What I would say is that water cannon is an indiscriminate

use of force. Anybody on the street at that time would have been

affected. Young, old, in-- infirm. That is something we ought to get

into public debate about before we make that decision. It is clear

from our opinion poll that Londoners support some degree of

greater force. Will this review change anything? If history

repeated itself, would the Met be in a position to do anything

differently next time? This isn't talks about talks, sure

it's not. Would there be a different model once this review is

finished? I think things will look different. All I can do is give

Londoners our reassurance we take it seriously and we are fit for

purpose should anything as dreadful as this happen again.

Now then, still to come on tonight's show: National Citizen

Service. We have only known each other less than 24 hours. Yet we

are starting to form like a family. We ask, should all youngsters be

made to sign up? Shocking images of shops being

ransacked, or raised to -- razed to the ground will always be

associated with the riots. We have followed several business owners

who have struggled to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

The view of London, reminisce sent of the Blitz, 70 years ago, as

blazes raged. I was getting phone calls saying looters were in there,

everyone was running around with masks on and The shop's on fire."

went up to the line of the riot police and like, How do I get

through?" he went, "No-one's going anywhere." It It was so hurtful. I

put east special on your anniversary and I put on the

television and said, "That's my shop." Among them were three

different businesses. The first was the party store in Clapham,

established for 25 years as a costume hire and joke shop and much

loved locally. The staff were completely devastated. They were

standing, most of the next two days standing outside in tears, looking

at the shop. I know it would be bad. I didn't, I just don't know, I

didn't expect it to be as bad as it was. In enfeeld the Sony warehouse

had been -- in Enfield, the Sony warehouse has been burgled and

burned. Important labels go. Everything up and coming. That is

important for bands on tour. We don't have CDs to give to them.

Croydon, a massive fire had destroyed Reeves Furniture, the

150-year-old iconic building, now near rubble. I don't even think

William Shakespeare could express the feelings I have. For the

generation of my father, grandfather, gone in one second.

We're a fighting family and we will move on.

The road is all cordoned off. There's rubble everywhere. The

buildings opposite are charred and burned. There are burnt cars

everywhere. Part of Reeves Furniture, across the road from the

devastated building survived in tact. Locals started to show their

support by buying beds. In Clapham Junction, when Duncan

was able to inspect his ruined party shop, he immediately resolved

to rebuild it. There was just so much at stake. Everyone's jobs and

future depends on this and therefore, you know, we have to

sort of be positive and work towards getting the business back

on its feet. It will then be a livelihood for all of us. Several

miles away n the warehouse, they were organising what was left of

their stock. They would have to work quickly to

I may go to Clapham and speak to businesses to see if they will

allow our customers to use them as a drop-off point for customers.

Merida's first break since the fire was an offer of help from a rival

distributor, Proper, who agreed to deliver the CDs from her label into

the shops. Being able to do something tangible is nice, so we

have been busy! And have heard of them, there is excitement

downstairs. One of Stolen Recording's bands, Bo

Nin-Gen, was warming up for their final festival of the season.

Having lost all their recordings and the fire, Lady -- Angus

Robertson and Rachel had worked round the clock to provide them

with new records for their tour. For it has been disruptive, working

weekends and evenings to catch up. We -- We've repressed what was

essential. Pete and the Pirates, like the up-and-coming releases. It

was like an emergency pressing, so we just sort of jumped in with both

feet, really. We couldn't hold anything up, it was like the stock

needed to be in the shops. With his shop gutted and business at a

standstill, Duncan is presented with an opportunity of setting up

just around the corner. John, who owned Dub Vendor, which is the shop

over there, came up to me and told me had been contemplating leaving

The Junction for some time and asked if I'd be interested in

taking over his shop. Just three weeks after the riots,

Duncan starts fitting out his new shop. His main worry now is finding

the money to pay his staff next month's wages. With more than ten

employees, he doesn't qualify for the Mayor's riot fund. Initially,

the insurance were very helpful. They offered us an interim. That

was �100,000. That went within a few weeks, and then I felt like

Oliver Twist saying, can I have some more money, please? We ran out

of money last week and it has been a struggle to get some more. There

is hope. All we can do is see what comes through.

As well as keeping the staff going, Duncan had an even bigger project

weighing on his mind. He runs Streetkids Rescue for impoverished

children in South East Asia, and he was determined the pre-planned

fundraiser would go ahead. We got the kids involved in

apprenticeships and what training schemes. At think it is what

everybody should aspire to be. -- I think. Your original poll of the

community. He shop was burnt down, he runs a charity for St Kitts and

always has a smile on his face and is incredibly positive. -- for kids.

At Reeves, trade has been brisk and despite having lost their main

store, they are confident they can continue trading until the

insurance eventually pays out. In myriad of things going on the

same time and you have to prioritise what do you think is the

best. Also waiting for the insurance to pay out, Merida had

applied for a loan from the music industry's fighting fund to help

small record labels. Grey, that is such good news, we definitely need

It looks like the loan agreement's all in place. The paperwork is all

done. Six week since the riots, and

Merida and Rachael crowned their fightback with a gig at the Scala

from Pete and the Pirates. They are live, sold-out! What could

be a better end to the disaster? It is a real relief.

Meanwhile, Croydon Council are in talks with the Reeve's family.

And Duncan and Rixy moved into the party store in time for the run up

to Hallowe'en, with an extra floor across the road in Debenhams. They

were back in business. -- it is exciting, it has been a roller-

coaster, glad we put it together. Good to see the Blitz spirit

prevailing and that some businesses at least are getting back on track.

If there's one thing the riots have made clear, it's that there are a

significant minority of young people in the capital who feel they

have no real stake in society. In the wake of the disorder, the

Government has outlined plans for a National Citizens Service to try

and create a new generation of engaged young adults. But is this

expensive scheme really the best way to win hearts and minds? We

sent our reporter, Richard Adams, Many people have long thought to

bring back national service. The riots have given youth a really

bad name. So if more people can get opportunities likes this, we can

redeem ourselves. It's a non-military programme that

captures the spirit of non-military national service. I think it's good

for certain people, because you know everyone is different.

It takes 16 year olds from different backgrounds and gets them

to work together. It's not up to the scheme, it's up

to the teenagers themselves. If they want to sort themselves out,

then they can. Following the London riots, many

have contemplated how best to engage what they consider to be a

disaffected generation. Beginning in the tranquil surroundings of

Snowdonia, we're following one group of London teens as they

embark on a rights of passage, which David Cameron believes could

provide the solution. This group of 16 year olds were

some of the first to participate in pilot schemes launched during the

summer. Hello, everybody, just want to say

a massively warm welcome to the challenge.

We're going to a camping trip in Wales for five days, a long walk.

I'm not looking forward to that, not at all. A six-hour walk, they

say. The scheme is available to all

teenagers from all backgrounds. It aims to provide sense of purpose,

in the hope that it will create a generation of engaged citizens.

The nature of society these days is that we are incredibly fragmented,

many of us don't even know our next-door neighbours, but these

young people are getting a chance to know not just the people who

live around them, and who might be the same age as them, but people

from completely different age groups. This guy is my main boy

right here, but hopefully, if I fall down the mountain, you are

going to come all the way down and pick me up. Yeah, of course, man,

of course. The scheme begins with a demanding

two-day trek. Helping to encourage team work, participants' physical

and mental capabilities are put to the test. Look at that! We've got

ages! And I hate heights, but I am dimly -- defeating it slowly.

scary! We've only known each other for

less than 24 hours, and yet we are starting to form like a family.

That David up there, the loud mouth. According to the poll commissioned

by Inside Out, 87% of those questioned believe some form of

national service should be introduced. Of those who wanted it,

more than half said it should be compulsory. Despite this, there are

concerns about the programme David Cameron has advocated.

The service is a snapshot. It is three weeks of activities followed

by 30 hours of volunteering. And in itself, that's a good thing, and it

would be an even better thing if it weren't for the fact that youth

services were being demolished. We've got a contradiction here. On

the one hand, a programme that in itself is a good thing, and on the

other, taking away things that are already working.

Er, excuse me, stop. Stop a minute there, sir. Oi, you, stop!

One of the youth projects that has suffered is Immediate Theatre. For

16 years, they have brought theatre to council estates across the

capital. Last year, they reached out to almost 16,000 young

Londoners. The group are currently rehearsing for a performance in

response to London riots. We were down by Mier Street, and we took

bare t'ings. We have had a series of traumatic

cuts. We have gone from 23 people to six. So young people are hanging

out with no less safe and secure to go. We were going to estates with

nothing going on and it has gone. We are in there for a couple of

years and then we have abandoned them some at one mentor is 24-year-

old former gang member Jamal his life has been transformed.

Be in part of Immediate Theatre has made me feel I have

responsibilities so I have to take that action. I can be constructive

now within myself. Everything has fallen into place, we are getting

everyone prepared. A lot of youth clubs have been

closed down so people here have not got a lot to do. Back in Snowdonia,

Challenge Group Reiss are still struggling to cope with the demands

of their trek. She's a bit frightened at the moment. Kendra,

are you all right? She's a bit frightened.

During the summer, around 9,000 16 year olds took part in the scheme

across the country. It is hoped that up to 30,000 will take part

next year. But there are major concerns about financing a scheme

that costs �1,000 per participant. 40% of the Londoners we questioned

don't believe that investing more in youth services would prevent

future riots. I am falling off!

There are 600,000 16 year olds in this country. If it was to be

rolled out across the country, you're talking about hundreds of

millions of pounds, who is going to pay for that? I think the key point

in terms of how much this programme costs is not just about its value

for money in six or seven weeks that they are doing the programme,

but is it value for money in the long term.

But those funds could be used by other youth services, which offer

access 365 days a year. Can you understand why some people will say

this is not representing value for money?

For us, that �1,000 is very well spent if they then go on to become

the kind of citizens in society that we desperately need in this

country, people who take responsibility for their actions.

Come on, people! Back in Hackney, Immediate Theatre

are hours away from performing their riot-inspired production.

I am a litre. Set yourselves for the beginning,

put your things in the right places, go to the loo, have a quick snack,

stay out of sight, until we call you.

Instead of going out on the streets, hanging around doing pointless

nonsense, you can come and do something and watch it and do a

performance where you feel like you've actually achieved something.

To be honest with you, I reckon I would have been involved in the

riots because, who knows, if I wasn't involved with in Immediate

Theatre, I would have just been, you know, looting.

I have come from the same background, so I can try and push

them in the right direction. They were on the ball, I would say they

will well-trained! Yes! I have done it! I trusted the next person and

the next person trusted me, everybody saved my life.

It is more mentally and physically towards the end, but thinking of

doing that is amazing. Never doing it again! Would you? It's still too

early to judge the long-term benefits of a National Citizen

Service, and with cuts being made to existing youth services, policy

makers face difficult decisions on where best to allocate funding and

resources. What's vital is that they are decisive, and penetrate

the root cause of the riots, so we never again witness the scenes of

Well, that's about it for tonight's Inside Out London. Before we go

though, here's a quick look at what's coming up next week.

A lifetime of student debt - we reveal some novel ways of beating

the fees. We expose how tuition fees will hit part-time students

are hardest. A lot of people will not be able to study, you will lose

a lot of people a lot of opportunities to change their lives.

And the property developers making a killing from student rentals.

we own a blog in a square in the centre of London and that is �600 a

And that's it from this week's Inside Out. If you missed any of

tonight's programme, then you can catch up on the iPlayer. Just head

to our website. Thanks very much Hello, I'm Celina Hinchcliffe with

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part of Vincent Tabak's defence statement. He admits manslaughter

but denies murder. Tributes have been paid to British

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Las Vegas. Jenson Button said he was a legend. Lewis Hamilton called

it a tragic loss. 96 people died in the Hillsborough

disaster 22 years ago. MPs are discussing a call for all documents

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authors believe he was shot by a local teenager.

Hello, I'm Riz Lateef with the latest from London.

The Met Police have admitted they would have used water cannon during

the London riots had they been available. A BBC London poll

revealed almost three quarters of people supported their use.

Labour's Ken Livingstone is back on the campaign trail for next year's

mayoral election. He's promising 11,500 new jobs for young people