By Vivienne Russell | 9 August 2011
London’s councils have been cleaning up the damage following a third night of rioting and looting across the capital.
London
Councils’ chair and Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe said: ‘London’s boroughs have been
leading on the clear-up of the damage caused to their communities. ‘Clean-up teams were on stand-by from the early hours of the morning waiting for the go-ahead from the police – and their efforts to make streets safe and clean for residents and businesses will have helped the capital pick itself up from last night’s disorder.
‘Councils have also been providing assistance to families and businesses who have been forced out of their homes and premises. Obviously some council services have faced disruption, but across the capital boroughs are working to ensure any affected services are relocated and are open to residents.
A London Councils spokesman told Public Finance that the costs to councils were not yet clear. ‘While it is too early to talk about costs, councils will have had to divert a significant amount of resources to making their streets safe and clean for residents and businesses,’ he said.
In Croydon, where as well as a wave of looting, a furniture store was set ablaze, a massive clean-up operation is under way. The council has drafted in extra resources to help rebuilding efforts and to secure local businesses.
Council leader Mike Fisher said: ‘What we saw last night was the destruction of our communities by a mindless minority that the majority of people hold in complete and utter contempt.
‘But rising from the smoke and ashes we very quickly saw that the people of Croydon, who hold this place, its community bonds and its history dear, begin to mobilise themselves in defiance of those criminals.
‘Croydon will rebuild itself like it has done in the past. It will not be defeated and the council will do all that it possibly can to help make that happen.’
In Lambeth, council leader Steve Reed said the disturbances, which also affected Brixton, did not signal a return to the riots of 1981.
‘Our job now is to get Brixton back to normal as quickly as possible so people can get on with their lives. We will offer all the support we can to the police with their investigations, and to local residents and businesses that have been affected to get them back on their feet,’ Reed said
‘The community in Brixton is strong and resilient. Last night's incidents will not damage that.’
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has returned to the capital from his summer holiday, condemned the violence and destruction as ‘utterly appalling’.
He said: ‘The acting Met commissioner [Tim Godwin] has assured me that the police are doing everything they can to resolve this situation. They will be making further arrests over the next few days and are working tirelessly to identify every criminal involved.’
Prime Minister David Cameron has returned early from his holiday to discuss responses to the unrest and Parliament will be recalled to debate the matter on Thursday.
Claire Kober, London Councils executive member for community safety, said: ‘All of us in London government must look carefully at our response to these events. We have to focus our efforts on the interventions that we know work – from supporting youth offending teams to community-led initiatives to promote calm.
‘We know that Londoners do not condone the actions of this minority and we will do all we can to strengthen and support our communities in responding to these criminal acts.’
