Results tagged “riots”

The August riots that swept across London cost millions in clean-up costs and police overtime but did have a positive effect on one Canary Wharf-based company.

Legal recruitment firm Sean Smith Associates saw demand for its services boom as firms across the capital sought staff to cope with the increase in court cases.

A teenage arsonist has been sentenced to four years in prison for setting fire to a Woolwich pub during the August riots.

The 16-year-old, from Abbey Wood, cannot be named for legal reasons. He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court today after pleading guilty to setting fire to the Great Harry pub in Wellington Street on August 8.

A wheelchair bound looter has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for his part in the Woolwich riots.

David Christopher Knott, 18, from Bromhedge, Eltham had a broken leg when he was captured on CCTV being handed a television outside Argos, Powis Street before being wheeled from the scene in August.

By John Biggs

The dust has settled a little following the recent disturbances, and maybe we can begin to be more thoughtful. I have two big worries.

First, that the reputational damage will affect jobs, employment and the positive image of London. This is vitally important for such an open city.

A wall of messages created by members of the Woolwich community saddened by the riots in the town was painted over because it was seen as graffiti.

Powis Street Estates, owners of the site of the Great Harry pub which was destroyed in an arson attack nearly two weeks ago, said it took the decision to paint over the messages after talking to Greenwich Council.

By Andrew Williams

It may seem trite or irrelevant to talk about the recent social unrest in a column about green living.

These riots weren't about recycling quotas or organic vegetables.

The Woolwich "wall" where residents scrawled messages of hope of defiance after the riots, has been painted over leaving the community fuming, according to witnesses.

A community meeting held to discuss the aftermath of the riots in Woolwich was boycotted by Greenwich Council.

Leaflets handed out in the town centre yesterday (August 18) on behalf of the council said it would not be attending because an organiser was connected to the English Defence League.

The fires have died down and the dust is beginning to settle after the Woolwich riots but most residents are still angry about the violence that hit the town.

Messages have begun to appear on hoardings around The Great Harry pub. Messages such as: "Me and my family were born and brought up here and I have never been so disgusted," and "Think it's over? Watch karma catch up with you".

By Jim Fitzpatrick

Compared to other parts of London, Tower Hamlets got off lightly in the recent riots - but not if you were one of the victims, either personally or through your business.

The Prime Minister David Cameron focused on gang culture as the root of many of our problems. I agree with him.

Millwall captain Paul Robinson wants this Saturday's Championship game against Nottingham Forest to show how football fans can prove a point after the rioting that's blighted London this week.

Nottingham has also been hit by trouble, and Robinson wants supporters to be on their best behaviour.

Homes in Tower Hamlets and Hackney were raided by police on Thursday morning in connection with this week's riots.

Officers reclaimed designer clothing and four people were arrested for offences involving burglary and handling stolen goods.

Tower Hamlets politicians have condemned the violence that has occurred across the borough in the last 24 hours.

Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse Jim Fitzpatrick and Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman have both promised that everything is being done to try and safeguard people and property in the area from rioters.

The Isle of Dogs didn't escape last night's rioting with looters stealing £15,000 of goods from a Tesco store and four cars being burned out on the Timber Wharf estate.

The violence began at around 10.25pm when a gang of up to 60 youths attacked Tesco Express in Pepper Street.

Last week we reported on the conviction of two Muslim youngsters who spray-painted over the naked flesh of advertising models.

While their actions were clearly criminal, they were at least underpinned by some sense of morality.

It's business as usual for the organisers of the London Olympics despite the widespread rioting across the capital.

Several nights of trouble, including in host boroughs Newham, Greenwich and Hackney, will not prevent the scheduled test events taking place.