British PM Rejects Idea MPs Partly To Blame For Riots

David Cameron and Ed Miliband clashed yesterday over whether the behaviour of politicians and bankers may have played a part in provoking last month's riots.








David Cameron has blamed the riots on Britain's 'broken society'.

Downing Street played down the findings of an academic research project suggesting lack of trust in politicians was a bigger factor in people's willingness to riot than other explanations such as lax moral values or poverty and the Government's spending cuts.

But Miliband, the leader of the Opposition, and Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, made clear that they were open-minded about whether alienation from the political class may have played a role.

Prime Minister Cameron, who regards the riots as a symbol of Britain's "broken society", yesterday began chairing a Cabinet review of the Government's social policies to see what changes are needed as a result of the riots. It will include state benefits, schools, parenting, family policy and whether health and safety and human rights laws prevent "common sense solutions" to social problems.

Commenting on the research by Essex University and Royal Holloway, University of London, Cameron's official spokeswoman said: "One can speculate but we are not necessarily going to know exactly what the causes were. The Prime Minister has been very clear. We have to have a very strong response in the wake of the public disorder."

The Liberal Democrats said the perception that politicians, bankers and others at the top were "getting away with it" may have been a factor in the refusal of rioters to abide by the "rules of the game" too.

Clegg is believed to be sympathetic to the academics' warning that depriving rioters of their state benefits could backfire - alienating them further and making them more likely to break the law again. Tory ministers have backed benefit cuts, but Clegg is warning Cabinet colleagues against a "kneejerk" response to the disturbances.

Labour sources said the academics' findings should be considered by the panel being set up by the Government to look into the reasons behind the riots.

Yesterday the Labour leader rejected Cameron's claim that the riots were caused by a breakdown in values. "There are issues of values but you've also got to address the issue of the values at the top of society, because the top of society sets an example for the rest and it hasn't been setting a good example in the last few years," Miliband said.

Miliband also promised to force a Commons vote on the cuts in police numbers.

MEDIA RESIST FOOTAGE CALL

Newspapers and broadcasters face growing pressure from the Metropolitan Police to hand over footage and pictures relating to the London riots.

Scotland Yard has threatened organisations with a court order forcing them to pass on material that may show "crime in action" if they refuse to comply.

Media groups have rejected the demands, maintaining that the press is an impartial recorder of events rather than an evidence-gathering mechanism for the police.

The police would have to convince a High Court judge that the police request outweighs the public interest of having a free press.

Other forces, including Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, began approaching local and national media a fortnight ago.

UK Riots: Young Yobs Back On Streets Despite David Cameron's Pledge

Young offenders who took part in the rioting and looting that blighted Britain’s streets this week are walking free from court without facing significant penalties.













The 12-year-old boy caught on camera stealing a bottle of wine from a Manchester Sainsbury's (left) hides his face as he leaves court last week.












11 year girl old rioter emerges from Nottingham Magistrates Court.












A 17-year-old girl from Croydon (pixelated, right) is accused taking two televisions from her local Richer Sounds hi-fi shop.












Riot suspect Chelsea Ives, who is an Olympics ambassador and met Sebastian Coe and visited the House of Commons.












Miss Leigh is arrested after she was filmed looting JD Sports in Tottenham.












11 year old boy and 22 year old Jason White (right) leave Highbury Magistrates Court after appearing on looting charges.


Despite David Cameron's promises that they would face "punishment", a string of juvenile criminals have been allowed to return home with their parents.

Several of the young rioters have been pictured in national newspapers committing crimes. Nonetheless, they retain the court's protection of legal anonymity.

The sentences being handed down have dismayed police and MPs after the Prime Minister's promise that rioters would "pay for what they have done".

Further undermining Mr Cameron's tough rhetoric, Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, backed the courts. He rejected the Prime Minister's call for new sentencing rules.

According to the Metropolitan Police, about half of the 240 people to appear in court so far charged with being involved in the London riots are younger than 18. The Met has arrested 1,009 people in connection with the disorder and 464 have been charged.

Mr Cameron this week promised offenders would not escape punishment because of their age, but several cases yesterday increased concerns that young rioters were not being held to account.

In separate cases in Manchester, two 12–year–old boys walked away from court after being involved in looting. One admitted stealing a £7.49 bottle of wine from a Sainsbury's store and was given a ninemonth referral order.

In court, the youngster appeared ashamed of his actions. But after the hearing, he and his mother swore at reporters.

The other Manchester boy was handed a four–month referral order after admitting using threatening words and behaviour. Several other youths also walked from Manchester city magistrates' court. A 16–year–old boy admitted handling £120 worth of stolen goods and was given a 10–month referral order and ordered to pay prosecutor costs of £120.

A 15–year–old girl was also given a 10–month referral order for stealing alcohol from a Tesco store after admitting burglary. And a 17–yearold was given 18 hours of community service after admitting possessing cannabis.

Mr Cameron has made repeated attempts to dismiss worries about sentencing, promising a hardline approach to rioters. Earlier this week, he warned that even the youngest offenders would face heavy penalties. "If you're old enough to commit the crime, you are old enough to face the punishment," he said. Ministers have spoken of removing benefits and council housing from those convicted of rioting or looting.

In Nottingham yesterday, an 11–year–old girl, who only left primary school last month, smirked and refused to apologise when put before a judge.

She admitted causing criminal damage on Tuesday by smashing shop windows. A judge gave her a nine–month referral order because of her age.

Referral orders are for those under the age of 18 and are a mixture of community work and intervention programmes to help rehabilitation or alter behaviour.

In London, an aspiring dance teacher was filmed as she took a flatscreen television from a looted store, then went back for a second.

The 17 year–old was part of a female gang that allegedly forced its way into the Croydon branch of Richer Sounds. She turned herself in after her picture appeared in the newspapers but retains her anonymity for legal reasons. She was remanded at Westminster magistrates' court to appear at a later date.

James Clappison, a Conservative member of the home affairs committee, said he was "very concerned" about young rioters' light sentences.

"The courts are failing to hand down sufficiently tough sentences," he said. "We need deterrent sentences, but we are not seeing that. Magistrates need to think again."

Police chiefs also expressed concern at soft sentences.

David Attoh, 18, this week admitted stealing two designer T–shirts in Hackney, east London. A magistrate told him that the two days he had spent in a cell awaiting his hearing was adequate punishment and freed him.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh of the Metropolitan Police said officers who had tackled rioters were dismayed by such sentences.

"Some of us have been disappointed by some of the early sentences we have seen, especially those officers who have been on the front line facing the violence and disorder," he said.

Mr Kavanagh said Tim Godwin, the acting Met Commissioner, had raised concerns about sentencing with ministers. MPs were yesterday recalled from their summer break to debate the riots and Tory backbenchers pressed Mr Cameron to make good on his promises.

Angie Bray, whose Ealing Central constituency saw serious violence, challenged Mr Cameron: "Can he assure my constituents that those who are found guilty will feel the full force of the law, including prison sentences?"

Mr Cameron replied: "People taking part in violent disorder should expect to go to prison."

He also suggested that sentencing rules could be toughened. "We are keeping under constant review whether the courts have the sentencing powers they need and we'll act if necessary," he told MPs.

Government sources said options for change include increasing magistrates' powers to jail offenders. Under current rules, magistrates can jail offenders for a maximum of six months. That could double to a year, sources said.

However, even as Mr Cameron was speaking, Mr Clarke appeared to rule out any change on sentencing. In a BBC Radio Four interview, Mr Clarke said "enough" prison sentences were being imposed.

He said: "The system is working."


David Cameron has promised to confront the “moral collapse” in British society that led to last week’s riots. "We will fight back against gangs, crime and the thugs who make people's lives hell and we will fight back hard, he said. "There is no 'them' and 'us' - there is us. We are all in this together, and we will mend our broken society - together."

England Is Sick Pole Monika Tells Of Riot Blaze Hell

The Polish mum who had to leap for her life after rioters torched her home said last night: "England has become a sick society."












Speaking for the first time to The Sun, Monika Konczyk, 32, said she came to London to seek a better life - but was nearly killed by thugs in a nightmare riot blaze.


















The hard-working Polish mum said she expected a "wonderful" fresh start when she arrived here five months ago.

Instead she found herself at the mercy of rampaging arsonists and looters as mayhem swept across London on Monday.

The image of Monika leaping from her flat against a backdrop of flames filled The Sun's Page One - and was beamed round the world to Britain's shame.

Poundland shop assistant Monika said: "I came to England because I thought it is a great country full of kind and gentle people.

"I thought London was a civilised society full of gentlemen and ladies - but it is not like that. England has become a sick society.

"I found myself jumping for my life after being attacked by thugs and thieves. They set fire to my building without any thought for anyone's safety.

"They were happy for me to die. They were like animals - greedy, selfish animals who thought only of themselves."

Desperate Monika had screamed "I'm going to die here" as a wall of flame and red-hot cinders swept ever closer to her flat in Croydon, South London.

Her terrifying 45-minute ordeal ended only when she jumped from her first-floor window into the arms of riot cops 16ft below.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Monika said of the rioters: "I am shocked to find people behaving like this in England.

"It is not what I expected of the English. I have never seen anything like this in Poland.

"Polish people are hard-working and respectable. They believe in working for a living, not stealing from others.

"If you want nice clothes or a new TV, you don't smash shop windows and loot them - you work to pay for them.

"My life in Poland was very hard, I worked very long hours for very little money.

"We are making sacrifices to come here so we can support ourselves and our families.

"My friends all told me what a wonderful country this is. I hope I can recover from this and go on to have a happy time here."

Monika became trapped in her rented flat above a shop just 15 yards from the 140-year-old Reeves furniture store that was blazing unchecked.

Fearing her own building was about to be engulfed, she called her sister Beata Bozenkow, who lives ten minutes away. Beata, 37, told her to flee.

Monika, who moved in just three weeks ago, frantically packed a bag.

But her flat had only a door to the rear of the building - and that exit was blocked by flames.

Monika said: "I tried to escape but it was like facing a wall of flame. Big red cinders were falling on my head and the wind was pushing the fire at me.

"Flames were coming up over my head. The fire was so hot I knew if I got too close it would kill me. I thought I was going to die - I thought I had lost my life."

She retreated back into her flat, which was rapidly filling with thick black smoke.












Terror ... store blazes out of control yards from Monika Konczyk's Croydon flat.

Monika desperately called her sister again. Beata and her husband Jurgen Mecaj raced to the scene.

But their way was blocked by cops trying to quell the riot. Tiler Jurgen, 31, said: "The police thought I was a looter, they said I could not get through. I begged them, saying 'Please, my sister-in-law is there'. Then they believed me and we all ran down."

Beata made a frantic call to terrified Monika, urging her to come to the window.


















Drama ... Monika Konczyk points to the window where she leapt out.

Monika said: "I was shaking so badly I could not open the window. But once I managed it I did not hesitate. I thought I was going to die in there. I did not care if I broke my legs and my arms on the ground. I saw a policeman with his arms outstretched and I just jumped and he caught me.

"Then they told us all to run away as fast as we could.

"Now when I see the picture of me jumping I feel very lucky to have my life. I never hoped to be famous, I just wanted to escape."

Monika, originally from the small Polish city of Koronowo, had been watching TV on a day off when terror came to her street.

It was the third day of the London riots but she had no idea Croydon was to be the flashpoint.

Monika said: "I was warned at 4.30pm that there was trouble but didn't give it another thought.

"Two hours later I heard shouting and the sound of broken glass. I started getting nervous. I looked out and saw a young boy with his hood up running down the street with a huge plasma TV."

More than 50 looters were smashing windows ever closer to Monika's home and a bus was torched. Monika, who ventured out to see what was happening, said: "I saw boys smash the windows of the furniture store and struggle to steal sofas. At the back of the store I saw a boy start a small fire on a bed.

"I was becoming very fearful so I went back into my flat. I thought it was best to stay inside where it was safe." But she was soon in mortal danger as the store was engulfed by fire.











Close ... Monika, left, with sister Beata and Jurgen.

Monika said: "I came here for a new start. I never thought this could happen. It is the first time I have ever seen anything like this. These people are so stupid, it is terrible. I could have died, and for what?

Quantcast

"I am so grateful to the police and my family for saving me."

Monika arrived in Britain on March 18 after a 23-hour bus trip.

It was an escape from the drudgery of Poland where she made £200 a month working 12 hours a day, seven days a week as a convenience store supervisor.

She had become pregnant with her son Damian after leaving school, and married.

Monika later divorced and moved into a one-bedroom flat while continuing to work for a pittance. Beata, who moved to Britain five years ago, begged her to join her.

Monika overcame her qualms about a new country and language and made the move. She soon found work in discount shop Poundland - and never missed a day until Monday's terror. Damian, now ten, lives with his father in Poland.

Monika said: "Despite what has happened, I still believe I can build a better life here."