Youngsters clash with riot cops but Wythenshawe unrest exaggerated by tweeters

August 10 2011
by Dave Toomer
A senior Wythenshawe councillor saw children as young as 12 clash with riot police near the Civic Centre last night as riots spread to Greater Manchester.

But the disturbances on Poundswick Road, near the Silver Birch pub, were not nearly as bad as portrayed by social media users throughout the night, Cllr Tommy Judge told the Reporter.

He said around 40 police officers in riot gear with batons drawn were involved in skirmishes with youths aged between 12 and 15 who were running at police and taunting them.

Fire crews were on stand-by but there were no major incidents. Damage was confined to a shopping trolley storage area at Asda and a broken shop window in the Civic Centre, he said.

And police, who issued a statement condemning the violence throughout Greater Manchester, said only one arrest was made in South Manchester.

Cllr Judge said: "I was at the Civic Centre and there were disturbances, but the police were in full control and did a great job. They were children who were involved in this nd it was slightly disturbing that there were adults present who allowed it to happen."

The reality was very different to the picture paiinted by some parts of social media which police believe was being used to incite violence.

One comment posted by a Twitter user from Birmingham claimed Wythenshawe police station had been burnt down. Others claimed Asda, McDonalds and KFC had been attacked.

Police warned that troublemakers using social media sites to incite violence would be pursued.

Manchester city centre and Salford was hit hard by the unrest which saw shops looted and buiding set on fire.

And Cllr Judge who works at Wythenshawe bus station said dozens of young people from the area were travelling into the city centre this morning carrying brooms to join volunteers taking part in a massive clean up operation.

He said: "If there is anything positive to come out of this it is that most young people are prepared to stand up for their city and will not let something like this beat us. On behalf of the community I want to thank the police and the fire crews who were on standby."

Cllr Judge added there was no excuse for the violence and supported the police in tackling lawlessness but said: "the effects of severe government cuts have to be looked at."

And Manchester Gorton MP Gerald Kaufman, said: "If this government implements bigoted policies of social exclusion – deliberate creation of unemployment, ending of education maintenance allowance, dumping of Sure Start, attacks on social housing tenancies et al – then … those excluded may turn to other ways of being noticed."

GMP has now arrested 113 people in total. The vast majority were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage while around 17 were arrested for public order offences. They are aged between 15 and 58.

Of those arrested there were 105 on North Manchester division, mainly the city centre, three in Salford, three in Bury, one in Bolton and one in South Manchester. Seven of those detained were under 18.

GMP was called to 800 incidents in the city centre from 6pm onwards and around 130 in Salford from 5pm onwards. More than 1,000 officers supported by neighbourhood staff took part in the operation, including a number of mutual aid officers from other forces.

Ten officers were injured in the line of duty, one of which suffered a suspected broken ankle. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue reported 155 fires across the city centre and Salford. Around 100 premises across the cities have been seriously damaged and a number of police vehicles were damaged.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "Last night's shameful destruction saw some of the worst scenes I have ever witnessed as a police officer.

"What we have seen are serious and unprecedented levels of violence and criminality on Greater Manchester's streets. These are shameful actions from criminals who have attacked our cities.

"Make no mistake - these people cannot hide behind any kind of political or moral banner to justify their actions. They are opportunists who have no respect for the law or our fine city.

"They appear to have seen the chance to get away with criminal behaviour on a grand scale but I can assure them they will not get away with this. We know who you are and we are coming to get you.

"I also want to stress the need for people not to get caught up in the disorder. We arrested a number of people last night who picked up items that had been dropped by the looters.

"If you pick up looted goods you are just as bad as the criminals who broke into the shop. Either leave the items where they are, return them to the shop or call the police ⿿ you do not want to spend hours in our cells in the mistaken belief you can take discarded stolen goods.

"It is also important that people know Manchester remains open for business this morning. I understand it is a worrying time for businesses, residents and shoppers but we, as a city, will rise above this and continue to go about our business.

"The focus today is on getting the communities of Greater Manchester and Salford back to normality. Both councils are organising clean up of their respective cities. Greater Manchester Police will be supporting the businesses and residents who have been affected and bring those involved to justice.

"Greater Manchester Police will be ready today to robustly respond to any further incidents of disorder while continuing to investigate what happened yesterday."