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Tottenham Riot Stats - 1 in 7 Foreign Nationals, 1 in 8 on Disability Pensions
Foreign looters from 44 countries have been locked up over the riots which scarred the country in August.Robbers, vandals and thugs from as far afield as Afghanistan, Cuba, Ethiopia and Samoa joined in as shops were plundered and businesses set ablaze, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. The sheer number from different corners of the globe who took part in the mayhem is one of the strongest indicators yet that the riots had nothing to do with political protest or civil unrest, but was born of greed and opportunist criminality. Last night campaigners said anyone convicted of a riot-related offence should be thrown out of the country at the earliest opportunity. Prison statistics revealed that 14 per cent about one in seven of those jailed for burglary, robbery, theft, criminal damage and disorder during the riots were born abroad. But the true number could be even higher as at least four per cent of those remanded in custody refused to tell police their nationality. Jamaicans represented the largest group of foreign inmates, followed by Somali and Polish offenders. The list also included those from Colombia, Iraq, Congo, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. ***************** One in eight of the rioters who have appeared before the courts was on incapacity benefits and unfit for work, figures revealed today. A total of 100 of the suspects were claiming disability living allowance and there were a further 60 on incapacity benefits. So far 1,344 people have appeared before the courts over the looting and widespread disorder which swept across Britain in early August. The official figures revealed 530 people - or 40 per cent - were on some form of benefit compared with just 15 per cent of the population. However, for all serious crimes committed last year, 48 per cent of defendants were on benefits. The four nights of violence in August were sparked by police shooting dead father-of-four and suspected gangster Mark Duggan in north London. There were calls for those involved in rioting and looting to have their benefits taken away from them and an e-petition attracted more than 240,000 signatures. Amid calls for rioters to lose their entitlements, Iain Duncan Smith said at the time: 'We already accept that if people who are receiving benefits do not, are not prepared to seek work, take the work that's available to them, we take the benefit off them. Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-10-24 |
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