UK courts had to sit 24 hours after 2011 rioting too

LAHORE: British courts will be sitting for 24 hours to sentence culprits terrorising the streets of United Kingdom during the past few days, as they did exactly 13 years ago when disorder, rioting and vandalism on the streets had adversely affected country’s calm.

However, a few media houses like “The Independent” have now raised some serious concerns over the existing jail capacity in the country. This prestigious British daily writes: “Prisons in the UK are currently experiencing an overcrowding crisis, running at 99 percent capacity since 2023. If the government agrees to hold all the arrested rioters, a serious question will be raised about where to hold them.

When they are sentenced, rioters should not expect leniency. In the aftermath of the 2011, riot-related sentences were 25 percent longer on average.” Between August 6 and 11, 2011, Britain had witnessed worst loot and arson, as well as mass deployment of police and the deaths of five people, prompting the courts to function 24 hours to hand over punishments to culprits behind the disorder.

The August 2011 protests had ignited in London’s Tottenham Hale area, following the killing of a local Black man, Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police. However, on January 8, 2014, a coroner’s jury concluded that Duggan was lawfully killed. The verdict of lawful killing was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2017.

Over 200 people were injured in clashes with police in 2011. The injured included 16 members of the public, 186 police officers, and three police community support officers. Not fewer than 2,815 homes and businesses were attacked.

By August 15, 2011, around 3,100 people had been arrested, of which over 1,100 had appeared in court to face law. Other reports suggested that at least 1,984 faced criminal charges for various offences related to the riots.

Initially, courts sat for extended hours. A total of 3,443 crimes across London were linked to the disorder. The Association of British Insurers said that they expected the industry to pay out in excess of £200 million.

Estimated losses in London were indicated to be in the region of £100 million. According to media reports, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter were used, besides BlackBerry phone messages, to promote and advertise sites for looting and disorder. As a result, many online organisers were handed severe sentences for their roles in the violence.

The “Financial Times” had reported that an analysis showed some 48,000 local businesses - shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs - suffering financial losses as a result of the looting and rioting on English streets. According to BBC News, a total of 2,584 businesses were attacked and looted, 231 homes were targeted by burglars and vandals, 664 people were robbed or injured.