Express & Star

Tackling riots in the West Midlands cost police more than £2million last year

The police operation for dealing with the violence and disorder in the West Midlands last year cost more than £2 million.

By contributor Gurdip Thandi
Published

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster presented a report to members of the Police and Crime Panel outlining his response to the trouble which broke out in July and August.

Part of that showed that the policing operation, including post-incident investigations, came to a total of £2,134,601.07.

Mr Foster told Monday’s (January 20) meeting that there was “no place for division, hatred or racism” in the West Midlands.

Trouble broke out in towns and cities across the UK in the wake of three children – Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven – were killed in Southport on July 29.

There was less violence and disorder in the region than elsewhere in the country, but West Midlands Police were called to incidents here and to support other areas during the period of unrest.

Mr Foster said his response was centred around three principles of ensuring West Midlands Police did all it could to ensure people were safe and action was being taken, providing advice and reassurance to the public and communicating and engaging with all relevant stakeholders.

PCC candidate Labour\'s Simon Foster. Taken from press release on PCC website.
PCC candidate Labour\'s Simon Foster. Taken from press release on PCC website.

Members of the panel sought reassurances from Mr Foster that the police would not rest on their laurels to future threats and would stand up to those causing racial divisions.

He was also urged to ensure action was taken on misinformation spread on social media, which resulted in incidents involving disorder at protests and counter-protests.

Coventry councillor Pervez Akhtar said what happened in the country wasn’t very British.

Mr Foster said: “There is absolutely no place for division, hatred, or racism in the West Midlands. It will not be tolerated.

“I care not who it is who is responsible for that, I care not who they are, and I care not where they are from, and I care not how wealthy they are. It will not be tolerated.”

Birmingham councillor Gareth Moore said: “Some of the scenes we saw broadcast were particularly horrific and some of the violence taking place was unnecessary.

“There was a lot of misinformation being spread, particularly through social media. That prompted a lot of protests and counter-protests, particularly in Birmingham.

“That has not been helpful, particularly the one in Bordesley Green, which was not great for the City’s reputation.

“I appreciate it was a counter-protest, but seeing people walking around obscuring their faces and clearly carrying weapons and almost attacking a journalist was concerning and didn’t look great for the city.

“I do hope whilst we are tackling extremist views and violence, whether it is far right or far left, I do hope we are cracking down on misinformation as well.

“I suspect it is dragging a lot of people into this on both sides into a rather toxic debate and do hope we’re not just focusing solely on those who participate in the violence but also those who whip it up in the first place.”

Mr Foster said: “Malicious communications can have the propensity to cause all sorts of misinformation, and in many respects, the availability of social media increases yet further the ability to engage in that sort of behaviour and whip up issues amongst communities entirely without justification.”