Hull City Councillor brands Humberside Police response to riot on the day as 'woeful'
A Labour councillor has branded Humberside Police's immediate response to the August 3 riots as 'woeful'.
An extra-ordinary meeting was held to debate a motion condemning the violence that look place in Hull city centre last month. The motion was passed unanimously.
The most captivating moment in the debate was Cllr Patrick Wilkinson's comments on Humberside Police's preparation and response to the riot. The Marfleet ward councillor, prefaced his intense condemnation of the police's actions on the day by praising the force's response in the days and weeks following the unrest.
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He said: "The police, following these riots, have been doing an excellent job in bringing people to justice."
However, this was where Cllr Wilkinson's praise for the force ended. He continued by saying: "On the day, their response to the main riot in town, I think, can be described as woeful at best, they were nowhere to be seen."
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Cllr Wilkinson also claimed in the meeting that Humberside ignored intelligence and turned down offers of assistance from neighbouring police forces including South Yorkshire Police until 4pm on the day when the riots had already been ongoing for many hours.
Humberside Police did not directly respond to the criticism when asked for comment, but referred to a number of statements they had made in the days and weeks following the violence which included information on a further six individuals who have been charged following the August 3 violence.