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| Riot inciter Johnny Melfah loses anonymity after court ruling | Riot inciter Johnny Melfah loses anonymity after court ruling |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A boy who admitted inciting thefts and criminal damage on a Facebook page during recent riots has been identified after a court lifted an order. | A boy who admitted inciting thefts and criminal damage on a Facebook page during recent riots has been identified after a court lifted an order. |
| Johnny Melfah, 16, of Thames Avenue, Droitwich, Worcestershire, admitted posting comments that were designed to encourage theft and criminal damage. | Johnny Melfah, 16, of Thames Avenue, Droitwich, Worcestershire, admitted posting comments that were designed to encourage theft and criminal damage. |
| Melfah is thought to be the first juvenile to have his anonymity lifted in a riot-related case. | Melfah is thought to be the first juvenile to have his anonymity lifted in a riot-related case. |
| He is due to be sentenced at Worcester Youth court on 14 September. | He is due to be sentenced at Worcester Youth court on 14 September. |
| Melfah had appeared at a magistrates court on Tuesday and his case was passed to the youth court where he appeared earlier. | Melfah had appeared at a magistrates court on Tuesday and his case was passed to the youth court where he appeared earlier. |
| He admitted the offences and the chairwoman of the bench lifted the normal automatic ban that applies to naming young people. | He admitted the offences and the chairwoman of the bench lifted the normal automatic ban that applies to naming young people. |
| BBC legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman said it was believed to be the first riot-related case where a person aged 17 or under has had their anonymity lifted. | |
| But Shauneen Lambe, director of charity Just For Kids Law, said society had to consider the long-term consequences of naming-and-shaming juvenile offenders. | |
| Since 1933, the courts have so rarely named juvenile offenders that Johnny Melfah has joined a list including three people convicted of murder. | |
| Last week, Crown prosecutors reminded courts that there would be a "strong public interest" to name where the public need to know that young offenders involved in "significant public disorder" have been caught. | |
| Ministers' support for naming-and-shaming follows in the footsteps of the former Labour government's moves to publicise Asbo victories against teen gangs. | |
| When in 2004 one gang complained their human rights had been breached by being named in newsletters posted through letterboxes, judges said the publicity was "justified, reasonable and proportionate". | |
| However, Parliament created the 78-year-old anonymity rules for a reason which isn't always at the forefront of minds. | |
| Its view was that a child foolish enough to break the law deserves a chance to make good as an adult. | |
| "I can understand the government feels it has to respond in a certain way to the civil unrest but these are children who are entitled to certain protections under the law," she said. | |
| The impact on the individual is huge, she added. | |
| "If he is no longer able to get the qualifications that he needs to get into employment, then he will become a burden on society rather than the benefit that he has the potential to become." | |
| Shots fired | Shots fired |
| Widespread disorder broke out across England earlier this month, including disturbances in various parts of Birmingham. | Widespread disorder broke out across England earlier this month, including disturbances in various parts of Birmingham. |
| The most notorious outbreak of violence in the city took place in Winson Green, where three men died died after being hit by a car in Dudley Road, on 10 August. | The most notorious outbreak of violence in the city took place in Winson Green, where three men died died after being hit by a car in Dudley Road, on 10 August. |
| Five people have been charged over the deaths of Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31. | Five people have been charged over the deaths of Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31. |
| Last weekend, West Midlands Police revealed that 11 shots were fired at officers and the force helicopter in the Newtown during the late evening on the night before the three men were killed. | Last weekend, West Midlands Police revealed that 11 shots were fired at officers and the force helicopter in the Newtown during the late evening on the night before the three men were killed. |
| Petrol bombs were also thrown at a marked police car and the Barton Arms pub was damaged. | Petrol bombs were also thrown at a marked police car and the Barton Arms pub was damaged. |
| Footage analysed | Footage analysed |
| CCTV footage released by the forced showed a group of up to 40 young men, all masked and wearing black clothing, were involved in the incident. | CCTV footage released by the forced showed a group of up to 40 young men, all masked and wearing black clothing, were involved in the incident. |
| Scientists and researchers have also been analysing riot footage in the city, hoping to learn more about the way crowds behave so preventative measures can be adopted. | Scientists and researchers have also been analysing riot footage in the city, hoping to learn more about the way crowds behave so preventative measures can be adopted. |
| Dr Patrick Tissington, associate dean of business partnerships at Aston University, viewed footage of an attack on a sweet shop in Birmingham. | Dr Patrick Tissington, associate dean of business partnerships at Aston University, viewed footage of an attack on a sweet shop in Birmingham. |
| It was targeted during the first wave of disorder on 8 August, in the city centre. | It was targeted during the first wave of disorder on 8 August, in the city centre. |
| The footage shows one or two young men trying to smash the shop's window before others join as a crowd watches. | The footage shows one or two young men trying to smash the shop's window before others join as a crowd watches. |
| Dr Tissington said: "When one person goes at it, several others join in because it's now been established it's OK to do that because someone is doing that and no one is stepping in to stop them." | Dr Tissington said: "When one person goes at it, several others join in because it's now been established it's OK to do that because someone is doing that and no one is stepping in to stop them." |