[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-15145957

A man has been arrested in connection with a fire started at women's fashion store Miss Selfridge during the riots in Manchester in the summer.

The building was destroyed and £400,000 worth of damage caused when it was deliberately set alight in August.

A 20-year-old was arrested on Sunday evening on suspicion of arson in Albert Square in Manchester city centre.

Bang him up and let the hunt continue .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15347868

The Court of Appeal has rejected seven of 10 sentence appeals by people jailed over August's rioting in England.

At a hearing on September 27, lawyers argued that the sentences - for crime ranging from burglary to violent disorder - were excessive.

Two men jailed for inciting rioting were among those whose appeals failed.

The judgment was announced by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London with Sir John Thomas and Lord Justice Leveson.

Good for Judges .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15347868

Appeals by two men jailed for using Facebook to try to incite disorder during August's riots in England have been rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, and Jordan Blackshaw, 21, were among 10 people challenging riot-related sentences.

At a 27 September hearing, the pair's lawyers argued that their four year sentences were "manifestly excessive".

The court rejected five other appeals but cut the sentences for three people convicted of handling stolen goods.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Sir John Thomas and Lord Justice Leveson at the Court of Appeal in London, read the judgements.

'Utterly shocking' lawlessness

Upholding the jail terms given to Blackshaw and Sutcliffe-Keenan, the Lord Chief Justice said the men had used technology for crime - and it was wrong to suggest their offences had been minor simply because they had not gone door-to-door encouraging people to riot.

"It is a sinister feature of these cases that modern technology almost certainly assisted rioters in other places," he said. "What both these appellants intended was to cause very serious crime. All this was incited at a time of sustained countrywide mayhem.

"The (sentencing) judge was fully justified in concluding that deterrent sentences were appropriate. These offenders were caught red-handed."

Blackshaw, from Northwich in Cheshire, and Sutcliffe-Keenan, from Warrington, had both admitted encouraging crime in Northwich, although there were no outbreaks of disorder in the town.

Burglary has been the most common offence related to the August riots
As well as the Facebook appeals, the court rejected five appeals against sentence by looters jailed for burglary.

Lord Judge said the level of lawlessness during the riots "was utterly shocking and wholly inexcusable".

"The imposition of severe sentences, intended to provide both punishment and deterrence, must follow.

"It is very simple. Those who deliberately participate in disturbances of this magnitude, causing injury and damage and fear to even the most stout-hearted of citizens, and who individually commit further crimes during the course of the riots are committing aggravated crimes. They must be punished accordingly and the sentences should be designed to deter others," he said.

"The offenders were deriving support and comfort and encouragement from being together with other offenders, and offering comfort support and encouragement to the offenders around them."

Lord Judge said the "sheer numbers involved" may have led some to believe they would escape detection.

BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani says the judgements pave the way for judges across England to impose tough jail sentences in cases yet to come to court.

..... and so they should .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15426720

The most comprehensive statistics published so far on the August riots in England show that those who took part were poorer, younger and of lower educational achievement than average.

Some 90% of those brought before the courts were male, and only 5% were over the age of 40.

The government figures show a quarter were juveniles - aged 10-17 - and a similar proportion were aged 18-20.

Of those arrested, 13% were identified as gang members.

Even in London, where gang membership among those arrested was highest, the figure was less than one in five.

Some 35% of adults brought before courts were claiming out-of-work benefits, which compares to a national average of 12%.

Of the young people involved, 42% were in receipt of free school meals compared to an average of 16%.

Ethnic background

A government spokesman said: "In terms of the role gangs played in the disorder, most forces perceived that where gang members were involved, they generally did not play a pivotal role."

Two-thirds of the young people in court were classed as having some form of special educational need. This compares to 21% for the national average.

Three-quarters of all those who appeared in court had a previous conviction or caution. For adults the figure was 80% and for juveniles it was 62%.

In terms of ethnicity, 40% of those arrested were white, 39% black, 11% of mixed background, 8% Asian and 2% were classified as "other".

Ethnic background ranged geographically from 77% white in Manchester to 32% white in London, and from 47% black in London to 11% black in Hertfordshire.

The figures were released by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

Interesting .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16171972

Scotland Yard has released CCTV images of its 213 "most wanted suspects" in its investigation into rioting which took place in London in August.

A dedicated Metropolitan Police Flickr website is displaying the images of people it wants to speak to.

Riots broke out in Tottenham, north London, on 6 August and spread to other parts of London and to English cities.

More than 2,040 people have been charged and more than 3,260 arrested in connection with violence and disorder.

The Metropolitan Police's investigation team has so far looked through 200,000 hours worth of CCTV footage to identify suspects.

Met Commander Steve Rodhouse, from Operation Withern, which has been investigating the riots, urged people with information to come forward.

He said: "Four months on from the disorder my team of officers remain absolutely committed to identifying, arresting and charging those involved in the criminality that took place.

"The investigation is a huge challenge and one that will continue for some time to come, but I want to reassure London's communities that we are determined to bring those who committed these outrageous crimes to justice and more arrests will follow."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/metropo...7628402525369/

Police are seeking assistance in identifying the following individuals.

If anyone recognises an individual please contact the telephone number below the image or call Crimestoppers quoting the unique reference code.

Grass 'em up and bang 'em up for Xmas .....

[Brother Leon]

I would much rather Justice For Mark.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Santon

I would much rather Justice For Mark.

Whoever Mark is, if he looted and pillaged, then justice he will have - courtesy of DoJ and HMP .....

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Omah

Whoever Mark is, if he looted and pillaged, then justice he will have - courtesy of DoJ and HMP .....

I think he is referring to the man who was shot dead by police who now seems to have been forgotten, the person who supposedly fired a gun at them yet it turned out he didn't even have a firearm on him, the guy who was vilified as being a "gangster", and treated as guilty by the media when he was the victim of murder by trigger happy officers.

That's what caused all this.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I think he is referring to the man who was shot dead by police who now seems to have been forgotten, the person who supposedly fired a gun at them yet it turned out he didn't even have a firearm on him, the guy who was vilified as being a "gangster", and treated as guilty by the media when he was the victim of murder by trigger happy officers.

That's what caused all this.

I doubt that the looters and pillagers had heard of him .....

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Omah

I doubt that the looters and pillagers had heard of him .....

Considering that research has shown that anger at the police was the main driving force behind the riots, I'd say they probably had

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I think he is referring to the man who was shot dead by police who now seems to have been forgotten, the person who supposedly fired a gun at them yet it turned out he didn't even have a firearm on him, the guy who was vilified as being a "gangster", and treated as guilty by the media when he was the victim of murder by trigger happy officers.

That's what caused all this.

Yeah. Mark Duggan.

Perfectly said MTVN.

Usually, If a Father of a baby daughter was shot dead while unarmed and posing no threat sitting in his car, the person who pulled the trigger would be jailed.....why is this any different?

Instead ALL the attention has been given to the rioters (Don't get me wrong, it was stupid to take it this far, even though I fully understand why it started in my Area of Tottenham.)

I wasn't in the country when this all happened but from what I know alot of it started due to people seeing it as a great "**** You" to the police and government.

[King Gizzard]

I'd be more inclined to believe the main reason behind the riots was oppurtunist thugs wanting a free laptop..

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Jingle Bellend

I'd be more inclined to believe the main reason behind the riots was oppurtunist thugs wanting a free laptop..

Exactly ..... human behaviour at its worst - greed, selfishness and violence .....

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I'd be more inclined to believe the main reason behind the riots was oppurtunist thugs wanting a free laptop..

I agree. While some people may have been acting against the police action, the vast majority of the rioters used it as an excuse to get free stuff and burn people's businesses.

[bbfan1991]

Silly girl.

[MTVN]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16018215

Anti-police sentiment was a significant factor in the summer riots in cities across England, according to a study on causes of the unrest.

The study by the London School of Economics and the Guardian newspaper involved interviews with 270 rioters.

Of those interviewed, 85% cited anger at policing practices as a key factor in why the violence happened.

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16282291

Police seeking suspected rioters have raided about 100 addresses across London.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 70 arrests had been made by officers from the force.

Four months on from the disorder, more than 3,400 people have been arrested and about two-thirds of them charged or summoned to court.

Officers began moving on homes in boroughs across the capital from dawn on Wednesday.

Police said it was the largest operation so far against people suspected of taking part in the August riots.

Det Supt Robin Bhairam said: "Today's activity is an indication that four months on from the incidents seen across London we remain absolutely committed to identifying and arresting those responsible for the disorder.

"Searches like those carried out today are happening on a daily basis and my message to those who were involved in criminality is that you will not get away with it.

"We have a huge team of dedicated officers working on this investigation and we will find you."

He added: "We are determined to bring those who committed these outrageous acts of criminality to justice and we will continue to make arrests."

The Met also thanked the public response to a recent release of 200 images of suspected rioters.

The Met makes Xmas not so merry for mayhem-mongers .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16491841

A man whose mother was threatened with eviction from her council home when he was caught looting during the London riots has been jailed for 11 months.

Christian Daniel Sartain-Clarke, 18, of Battersea, was caught in a Currys store in Clapham Junction last August.

His barrister Guy Bowden said he had become "a poster boy" for the riots and had already suffered because his family faces eviction.

Two other men were jailed for 20 months.

Simon Rodney, 31, of Gosling Way, and Timothy Rodney, 30, from Brixton, had been arrested at the same time.

All three appeared at Inner London Crown Court and admitted burglary.

[Omah]

A teenager has been charged with the offence of "riot" - the first person to be charged with the offence in relation to the disorder in London last summer.

Jerome Amankwah, 19, of Rochford, Griffin Road, Tottenham, will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on 9 February.

He was charged on Tuesday, in relation to rioting on High Road, Tottenham, on 6 August, Scotland Yard said.

The offence of riot is contained in the 1986 Public Order Act.

The Act states: "Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot

Riot is an indictable-only offence. A person convicted of riot is liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding ten years, or to a fine, or to both.

It's straight to Crown Court for that 19-year-old, then .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17154157

A man has pleaded guilty to starting a fire which destroyed a 144-year-old furniture shop in south London during last summer's riots.

Gordon Thompson, 33, changed his plea during a trial at the Old Bailey.

The court had previously heard that Thompson told another man "it was me", as he walked away from the burning House of Reeves in Croydon on 8 August.

He stole a laptop from Reeves before asking around for a lighter and setting fire to a sofa, the court heard.

The blaze was so fierce buildings on the opposite side of the road caught fire and tram lines in the road were damaged.

The burnt-out store has since been demolished, but the company is still trading from refurbished premises across the street.

Judge Peter Thornton QC said Thompson, of Waddon Road, Croydon, would receive a lengthy sentence. He will be sentenced on 11 April.

'Ran riot'

Thompson had previously admitted burglary of two shops in Croydon - Iceland and House of Fraser - but had denied the charge of arson in relation to the store.

At the end of the prosecution opening he decided to admit certain charges.

IMO, he should get at least 10 years .....

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Omah

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17154157
IMO, he should get at least 10 years .....

A looter has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years for starting a fire which destroyed a family-run furniture shop in south London in the summer riots.

Following the sentencing Jenny Hopkins from the Crown Prosecution Service said Thompson's "callous actions had recklessly endangered the lives of many innocent people".

Thompson, who has 20 previous convictions, including one for violent robbery, was filmed on mobile phones and by CCTV cameras during the arson, the court heard.

Justice has been served - Thompson can rot while the Reeves family and honest Croyden residents get on with the rest of thie lives .....

[arista]

Yes Evil Scum

[King Gizzard]

33....what a hard nut

I think it's easy to forget that as a species we can all get caught up in the events that are happening around us. Anyone familiar with the Stanford prison experiment would appreciate that.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

I think it's easy to forget that as a species we can all get caught up in the events that are happening around us. Anyone familiar with the Stanford prison experiment would appreciate that.

That's no excuse in this case - the arsonist could have stayed at home and not committed burglary and arson - he had free will then, but he won't when he's banged up with knuckle-draggers .....