Community shows trouble 'does not represent Hull'

Residents who turned out to help clean up their city's streets following disorder say what happened "does not represent Hull".

Shops were broken into and looted - with one set on fire - and police officers were attacked following protests in the city centre on Saturday evening involving anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters.

Adam Mohamad, who owns a shop on Spring Bank, described the trouble as "very bad" and thanked those who came out on Sunday morning to help with the tidy up.

Nadine Balmer, who was among the volunteers out in force, said it was important to "make a stand" and "let them know we do care".

Nadine Balmer came out to help with the clean-up operation

Ms Balmer said: "I think it was really important to show the people of Spring Bank, our black and Asian community, that if people are going to come out to incite hate, we are going to come out to do good.

"That’s what it’s about, to support these communities. They bring enrichment and that’s what Hull is about.

"I wanted to come and stand with the people of Spring Bank and let them know that they matter."

The windows of a hotel were also smashed and cars set alight in the car park of a carpet business during Saturday's violence as anti-social behaviour continued away from the centre and into neighbouring streets.

Shop owner Adam Mohamad thanked volunteers who came out on Sunday morning to help with the clean-up

Shop owner Mr Mohamad, who was caught up in the violence when it moved to Spring Bank, said: "It was not very good here.

"All the people were coming here to shoplift and making big trouble.

"A lot of people came out for fighting.

"Thank you for the clean-up. It’s good for the city and I will help the team by giving them water or anything they want."

About 50 to 100 people turned out to help with the clear-up as signs of Saturday's disorder were still evident.

Shops remained cordoned off by police in the centre with shattered fronts and glass on the pavements.

Council workers began the process in the city centre as shop owners tried to get inside and assess the damage.

Lucia Thomson joined the clean-up operation as she said she felt it was important to show there is a "better way of communicating anger".

“I was really sad about it and I didn’t agree with what they were doing," she said.

Lucia Thomson felt it was important the community set an example with their reaction

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"This is my community. It’s the right thing to do and it’s setting a good example to our children that crime and violence is not a good way of getting a message across.

"Working together as a team and cleaning up our streets is really important to me."

Laura Wilson, who lives in East Hull, said there was a feeling of "upset and pain right across the city".

She was also determined to show that the events were not a true reflection of the city.

She said: “The people that came out yesterday [Saturday] didn’t represent Hull.

"It was people from different cities and the far-right. We support our communities.

"We are coming out to make sure that people know we fully support all our communities, asylum seekers and people who have nothing.

"I am disgusted by it."

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said there will be "consequences" for those carrying out criminal behaviour.

Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison thanked council staff and volunteers for their "tireless" efforts with the clean-up operation.

"I want to reassure people that, today, the city centre is safe to visit," he said.