Dobson: Met trying to weasel out of compensating looted firms

12 April 2012

Met police chiefs have been accused of denying riot compensation to businesses in London targeted by violent thugs.

Former Cabinet minister Frank Dobson has written to Home Secretary Theresa May urging her to intervene.

"In my constituency businesses applying for compensation from the Met are being told that there was disorder but that it was the wrong sort of disorder which did not amount to a riot so they are not entitled to compensation," he said.

He stressed that more than 200 people took part in street violence in which shops and other premises in Camden High Street and Chalk Farm Road were smashed and looted.

"To local people this looked like a riot, smelled like a riot and sounded like a riot," the former Health Secretary added. "So no mean-minded police lawyers burbling on about the small print will convince them that it wasn't a riot. I understand that the Met are responding in this way in some other riot neighbourhoods."

He claimed Ms May had given him an assurance in the Commons that the police would not be able to "weasel" out of paying compensation under the Riot Damages Act. The Metropolitan Police Authority, which is dealing with riot compensation, could not comment on the issue this morning.

On a visit to Tottenham, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced that former Ealing council chief executive Darra Singh would chair the panel inquiring into the riots. Its interim findings will be sent to the Government and Labour leader Ed Miliband by the end of November.

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