THE people of Liverpool will not be beaten by mindless violence, council leader Joe Anderson vowed last night.
Speaking in the early evening, Cllr Anderson said the city needed to take a deep breath and trust the city’s authorities were doing all they could. He spent the day visiting areas damaged by the previous night’s riots, and was heartened by the way residents responded in the clean-up operation.
“There were more people out there this morning helping with the clean-up than were engaged in the criminality the night before,” he said.
“The people of the city will not be beaten by this. We are open for business.
“The police approach last night was to try to remain in a position where they protected the community, houses, and businesses where they could because they didn’t want to be taken off the job (to arrest people and take them away).
“Tonight it will be more robust, the police have cancelled all leave. Social services are on standby if the police bring in young people.
“You have got to be careful not to inflame the situation, you have to be mindful of that. The police will be robust, firm but fair.”
He said there was no question the city’s image had been damaged.
“We are competing for inward investment, so it is disappointing that our reputation and perception that we are trying to build has been undermined by people hell- bent on destruction.
“Let’s be absolutely clear about this, what we are doing to support the unemployed has been hampered by the government cuts. As we reduce the youth service, the employment and training services, and all those things that support young people that is going to create resentment and anger with young people.
“However, the people causing the mayhem were purely hell bent on causing criminal damage, they were not trying to make an ideological point.
“Lots of people from outside Toxteth came to the area, and deliberately so because of Toxteth’s recognition. The bottom line is that the problems that Toxteth faces are faced in Kensington, Garston, and Knotty Ash.”
