A fortnight after the 2011 riots, Prince Charles visited London Road and met residents affected. Now the local MP has written to him for help

After losing patience in waiting for the Prime Minister and his deputy, or for the Mayor of London, to fulfill their various promises to the people of Croydon who lost their homes and businesses in the riots more than two years ago, local MP Steve Reed OBE has now sought help from an influential figure. Reed has written to Prince Charles to seek royal assistance in breaking the back-log to get the riot victims the compensation they were promised.

Reed, the Croydon North MP, says he is “frustrated that help has still not come through”.

According to BBC research conducted ahead of last month’s second anniversary of the 8/8 riots, around 50 Croydon businesses have yet to receive a penny in compensation, either having the claims denied or significantly reduced through the provisions of the Riots Act, or have been left waiting for help from the special schemes announced by the likes of London Mayor Boris Johnson in the immediate aftermath.

Charles and Camilla on their visit to London Road two years ago

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, were among the VIP visitors to Croydon following the riots, and Reed hopes that the influence of the heir to the throne, who is well-known to get involved in social issues, could bring pressure to end the politicians’ inaction and bring about a meeting between riot victims and the Prime Minister.

Reed refers to several cases, including some which were first highlighted by Inside Croydon, such as Mumtaz and and Mujahida Hassan, who owned a dry-cleaning business on the London Road that was burnt down by rioters, but have never received compensation to rebuild their business. They now have no income and face losing their home.

Charlene Munro was forced to flee her London Road flat with her three-year-old son when a mob of rioters were approaching. She returned the next day to find her home burnt down. She has been forced to file for bankruptcy after receiving only partial compensation.

Reed has sent similar letters to David Cameron and to Stephen Greenhalgh, the unelected deputy mayor who has responsibility for policing in London.

“It’s no good the Prime Minister standing up in the House of Commons and promising to help victims if that help never comes through,” Reed said.

“I want him to hear directly from the people who are still suffering why he needs to intervene to secure the support these people need and deserve. I know Prince Charles cares deeply about this issue so I’ve asked for his help to persuade Mr Cameron to listen.”

• How were you affected by the riots? Complete a brief survey
• The riots, an assertion of power and our self-serving council

Coming to Croydon

• Old Mid-Whits hockey open day: Sep 8
• Friends of Ashburton Park meeting: Sep 11
• Three plays in a pub: The Ship, Sep 24
• Have a cup of coffee and help fight cancer: Sep 27

• Inside Croydon: Croydon’s only independent news source, based in the heart of the borough – 262,183 page views (Jan-Jun 2013)
  
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