This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-14538252

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Theresa May tells police: We back you on tough tactics Theresa May tells police: We back you on tough tactics
(40 minutes later)
Theresa May has told police chiefs they have political backing to use tough tactics to deal with rioting, as new guidelines are issued to forces. Theresa May has told police chiefs in England and Wales they have her support to use tough tactics in riots and that they could get new curfew powers.
The home secretary said officers had been criticised for being "too tough" but would always have her backing if they acted "within reason and the law". The home secretary said officers had been criticised in the past for being "too tough" but had her backing if they acted "within reason and the law".
Ministers are considering a "general curfew" power for specific areas. She said new guidelines would be issued to forces about public order policing.
Police chiefs and ministers had clashed over the handling of the police response to last week's riots. And ministers are considering a "general curfew" power for specific areas in England and Wales.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that such powers did not currently exist although individuals could be banned from staying out late as part of a civil order, or if they were under probation supervision.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • An independent panel will be set up to hear from the victims of the riots and disorder last week, Nick Clegg says
  • A 16-year-old boy is due to appear in court charged with the murder of Richard Mannington Bowes, 68. Mr Bowes was attacked during rioting in Ealing, west London, last week and died three days later. The boy also faces charges of violent disorder and committing four separate burglaries
  • Senior Scotland Yard officers are to brief MPs from the home affairs select committee on the policing of the riots
  • The Metropolitan Police has released CCTV footage of two officers hit by a car at high speed as they chased looters in Waltham Forest, north-east London
  • An independent panel will be set up to hear from the victims of the riots and disorder last week, Nick Clegg says
  • A 16-year-old boy is due to appear in court charged with the murder of Richard Mannington Bowes, 68. Mr Bowes was attacked during rioting in Ealing, west London, last week and died three days later. The boy also faces charges of violent disorder and committing four separate burglaries
  • Senior Scotland Yard officers are to brief MPs from the home affairs select committee on the policing of the riots
  • The Metropolitan Police has released CCTV footage of two officers hit by a car at high speed as they chased looters in Waltham Forest, north-east London
In her speech in London the home secretary also made clear that the next Metropolitan Police Commissioner will be a British officer - following speculation that a US crimefighter, such as former New York police chief Bill Bratton could be considered for the role. Following last week's widespread disorder, which began in north London but spread to different parts of the city as well as parts of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Gloucester and Bristol, police chiefs and ministers had clashed over the handling of the police response.
She told reporters she had "no time for the pessimism which says we cannot find from amongst our ranks a tough crime fighter, equipped to lead the Met".
Following last week's widespread disorder, which began in north London but spread to different parts of the city as well as parts of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Gloucester and Bristol, Mrs May had said that police initially sent too few officers to deal with the riots.
'Damned if they do''Damned if they do'
On Tuesday she praised the bravery of those on the front line but said that she had been told that some officers had felt "because of criticism of police tactics in the past" police had felt "damned if they do and damned if they don't". On Tuesday Mrs May praised the bravery of those on the front line but said that she had been told that some officers had felt "because of criticism of police tactics in the past" police had felt "damned if they do and damned if they don't".
She told the audience, which included police chiefs: "As long as you act within reason and the law, I will never damn you if you do."She told the audience, which included police chiefs: "As long as you act within reason and the law, I will never damn you if you do."
She said public support was put at risk if tactics like rubber bullets were used - and police chiefs themselves had not wanted to use baton rounds and water cannon, instead relying on a surge of officers and "robust policing" alongside community support.She said public support was put at risk if tactics like rubber bullets were used - and police chiefs themselves had not wanted to use baton rounds and water cannon, instead relying on a surge of officers and "robust policing" alongside community support.
But she said "strong, enforceable powers" were needed to help police deal with anti-social behaviour, criminality, gangs and disorder.But she said "strong, enforceable powers" were needed to help police deal with anti-social behaviour, criminality, gangs and disorder.
The government was looking at giving police new powers on dispersal orders and curfews, which are currently linked to specific individuals over the age of 16. She said dispersal orders - which allow police to move on groups of people from certain areas - had been used "to good effect" and were part of anti-social behaviour measures which were currently being reformed to make them more "effective and enforceable".
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that such powers did not currently exist although individuals could be banned from staying out late as part of a civil order, or if they were under probation supervision. Police would get stronger powers to enforce gang injunctions and remove face masks, she said.
And she said she had written to Sir Denis O'Connor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to ask for clearer information to be provided to police forces in England and Wales about the size of deployments, public order tactics, when it is appropriate for other police forces to provide help, the number of officers trained in public order policing, and "an appropriate arrests policy". And ministers are considering new curfew powers - to allow "general curfews" to be imposed on a specific area, rather than being linked to specific individuals, and to allow them to be imposed on more youngsters aged under 16.
Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Denis O'Connor warned earlier this year that more than two in five forces were unprepared to help police major protests. "It's clear to me that as long as we tolerate the kind of anti-social behaviour that takes place every day up and down the country, we will continue to see high levels of crime, a lack of respect for private property and a contempt for community life," she said.
"So we will make sure the police have the powers they need. But we also need to be clear that when they use them, and when they deliver the kind of robust policing that worked this week, they have the support of the politicians and the public."
Mrs May has written to Sir Denis O'Connor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to ask for clearer information to be provided to police forces in England and Wales about the size of deployments, tactics, when it is appropriate for other police forces to provide help and "an appropriate arrests policy".
He warned earlier this year that more than two in five forces were unprepared to help police major protests.
Mrs May took issue with critics who say the government's planned 20% cuts to central police funding would lead to thousands of police officers jobs being axed, saying cuts were needed to deal with a grave financial crisis - but arguing the cuts actually amounted to 6%, when other sources of funding were taken into account.Mrs May took issue with critics who say the government's planned 20% cuts to central police funding would lead to thousands of police officers jobs being axed, saying cuts were needed to deal with a grave financial crisis - but arguing the cuts actually amounted to 6%, when other sources of funding were taken into account.
But Paul McKeever, of the Police Federation - which represents rank and file officers in England and Wales - said the speech was a "real slap in the face" for police, as Mrs May had shown she was "ploughing on ahead regardless with cuts which everyone in the police force say are detrimental."
He said Mrs May was saying on the one hand she respected officers but there was "implied criticism" in the way they had done it.
Police last week defended their handling of the riots, rejecting suggestions from Mrs May and Prime Minister David Cameron that restoration of calm had been due to political intervention.Police last week defended their handling of the riots, rejecting suggestions from Mrs May and Prime Minister David Cameron that restoration of calm had been due to political intervention.
But acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Tim Godwin told the home affairs committee the relationship between police and Mr Cameron and Mrs May had been "very supportive" and Cobra - the government's emergency committee - had worked well.
"The perception of us as loggerheads is not helpful in terms of responding to the situation we are confronted with," he said.
But he added that it was "sometimes forgotten" that decisions were taken "in the heat of the moment" without the benefit of hindsight.
He said police had doubled the number of officers on the streets of London on the Monday night but had not expected the extent of disorder which broke out across 22 out of the 32 London borough.
The Met Police chief said this was "unprecedented and could not have been foreseen".
Meanwhile, the courts and tribunals service said legal advisers in court were advising magistrates to "consider whether their powers of punishment are sufficient in dealing with some cases arising from the recent disorder".Meanwhile, the courts and tribunals service said legal advisers in court were advising magistrates to "consider whether their powers of punishment are sufficient in dealing with some cases arising from the recent disorder".
"All advice is given in open court and the parties are entitled to comment," a spokesperson said."All advice is given in open court and the parties are entitled to comment," a spokesperson said.
But the Judicial Office has denied that judges had been directed to jail everyone guilty of offences during last week's disorder.But the Judicial Office has denied that judges had been directed to jail everyone guilty of offences during last week's disorder.
"The senior judiciary has given no directive in relation to sentencing for offences committed during the recent widespread public disorder," a spokesperson said."The senior judiciary has given no directive in relation to sentencing for offences committed during the recent widespread public disorder," a spokesperson said.
"When passing sentences judges consider many factors, including the punishment of offenders, the reduction of crime by deterrence, and the need to protect the public.""When passing sentences judges consider many factors, including the punishment of offenders, the reduction of crime by deterrence, and the need to protect the public."
The Ministry of Justice is to instruct probation officers to recommend community payback sentences for those convicted over the riots but not jailed.The Ministry of Justice is to instruct probation officers to recommend community payback sentences for those convicted over the riots but not jailed.