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David Cameron calls for calm after Mark Duggan inquest verdict David Cameron calls for calm after Mark Duggan inquest verdict
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have moved to calm tensions over the police killing of Mark Duggan by expressing regret at his death and empathising with the strength of feelings after an inquest jury decided he was killed lawfully. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have tried to calm tensions over the police killing of Mark Duggan by expressing regret at his death and empathising with the strength of feelings after an inquest jury decided he was killed lawfully.
As the Duggan family declined to attend a meeting in Tottenham with the Met commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the prime minister spoke of his respect for Duggan's aunt who said the matter should be pursued through the courts and not on the street. As the Duggan family declined to attend a meeting in Tottenham, north London, with the Met commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the prime minister spoke of his respect for Duggan's aunt, who said the matter should be pursued through the courts and not on the street.
Speaking on BBC Radio London, Cameron said: "Of course these issues raise very strong emotions. But I hope people can react calmly and recognise that we have proper judicial processes in this country and they are the ones that must be followed and respected."Speaking on BBC Radio London, Cameron said: "Of course these issues raise very strong emotions. But I hope people can react calmly and recognise that we have proper judicial processes in this country and they are the ones that must be followed and respected."
Earlier on his weekly LBC phone-in, Clegg said: "This case of the shooting of Mark Duggan and of course the result of the inquest jury, I can totally understand – and the commissioner has been quite right to say he also understands – why that has caused as much anxiety, concern and in some cases outright anger among members of his family, friends and the community." Earlier, on his weekly LBC phone-in, Clegg said: "This case of the shooting of Mark Duggan and of course the result of the inquest jury, I can totally understand – and the commissioner has been quite right to say he also understands – why that has caused as much anxiety, concern and in some cases outright anger among members of his family, friends and the community."
On Wednesday the inquest jury found that Duggan had been killed lawfully by a police marksman, even though it accepted he was unarmed at the time. Duggan's death in 2011 sparked the UK's worst urban riots in decades. On Wednesday, the inquest jury found that Duggan had been killed lawfully by a police marksman, even though it accepted he was unarmed at the time. Duggan's death in 2011 sparked the UK's worst urban riots in decades.
Cameron and Clegg's radio appearances had been arranged before the verdict, but both men used the chance of speaking to London audiences to reach out to the Duggan family while stressing the importance of respecting the decision of a jury. Cameron and Clegg's radio broadcasts had been arranged before the verdict, but both men used the chance of speaking to London audiences to reach out to the Duggan family while stressing the importance of respecting the decision of a jury.
Cameron said: "Obviously this is a very important case. There are some points we have to get straight. Any loss of life is always a matter of great regret. I know how strongly people feel about that. I remember visiting Tottenham and talking to people after the riots when they took place.Cameron said: "Obviously this is a very important case. There are some points we have to get straight. Any loss of life is always a matter of great regret. I know how strongly people feel about that. I remember visiting Tottenham and talking to people after the riots when they took place.
"But we have to respect judicial processes in this country. We have to respect the outcome of trials and the work juries do. I very much respect Mark Duggan's aunt for saying they want to pursue their case through the courts rather than on the streets. That is absolutely right. I have huge respect for Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is ready to meet with the family if they would like and recognises how much more important work we still have to do to make sure the police have the confidence of every community in London.""But we have to respect judicial processes in this country. We have to respect the outcome of trials and the work juries do. I very much respect Mark Duggan's aunt for saying they want to pursue their case through the courts rather than on the streets. That is absolutely right. I have huge respect for Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is ready to meet with the family if they would like and recognises how much more important work we still have to do to make sure the police have the confidence of every community in London."
Clegg stressed it was a jury that had decided Duggan was lawfully killed. He said he understood the anger of the Duggan family, and said rules governing investigations by the Independent Police Complaints Commission could lead to a breakdown in communications, which in turn led to misunderstandings. Clegg stressed that it was a jury that had decided Duggan was lawfully killed. He said he understood the anger of the Duggan family, and said rules governing investigations by the Independent Police Complaints Commission could lead to a breakdown in communications, which in turn led to misunderstandings.
"I am sure there are questions that need to be asked, not only about how some of these investigations are conducted. I was very struck when I went there that some of the local folk I met said part of the problem is that when an IPCC investigation happens there is a whole lot of stuff that can't be said. Communication breaks down about the details of the case because it is under investigation at exactly the moment when people need to talk to each other."I am sure there are questions that need to be asked, not only about how some of these investigations are conducted. I was very struck when I went there that some of the local folk I met said part of the problem is that when an IPCC investigation happens there is a whole lot of stuff that can't be said. Communication breaks down about the details of the case because it is under investigation at exactly the moment when people need to talk to each other.
"That is a real dilemma because you have to allow the IPCC the space to investigate. But on the other hand if that means people aren't able to talk about it, often a different interpretation of facts can cause space for even greater misunderstanding.""That is a real dilemma because you have to allow the IPCC the space to investigate. But on the other hand if that means people aren't able to talk about it, often a different interpretation of facts can cause space for even greater misunderstanding."
The deputy prime minister praised Hogan-Howe for meeting community leaders in Tottenham. He said the Met commissioner was right to look at a pilot scheme in which armed police wear cameras to help investigations into disputed incidents.The deputy prime minister praised Hogan-Howe for meeting community leaders in Tottenham. He said the Met commissioner was right to look at a pilot scheme in which armed police wear cameras to help investigations into disputed incidents.
Cameron said more needed to be done to tackle racial discrimination and to provide greater opportunities to disadvantaged communities.Cameron said more needed to be done to tackle racial discrimination and to provide greater opportunities to disadvantaged communities.
"We have been on a journey in our country from a time when there were very bad levels of racial prejudice, very bad levels of discrimination, not proper avenues of opportunity," he said. "We are on a journey. We haven't cracked all these problems. There is still racial prejudice in our country."We have been on a journey in our country from a time when there were very bad levels of racial prejudice, very bad levels of discrimination, not proper avenues of opportunity," he said. "We are on a journey. We haven't cracked all these problems. There is still racial prejudice in our country.
"But governments of all colours, whether Labour or Conservative, have been trying to break down these barriers and try and end discrimination and make sure people are valued for the passion in their heart and the thoughts in their head rather than the colour of their skin or their sexuality.""But governments of all colours, whether Labour or Conservative, have been trying to break down these barriers and try and end discrimination and make sure people are valued for the passion in their heart and the thoughts in their head rather than the colour of their skin or their sexuality."
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