Judge calls for tougher charges for rioters

Riot police in Hull city centre on 3 August

A judge has urged prosecutors to consider charging offenders playing central roles in disorder with an offence carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

Judge John Thackray KC made the comment on Wednesday as he sentenced 26-year-old Connor Whiteley to three years' imprisonment for kicking a female police officer to the ground in Hull on 3 August.

He said: "The prosecution do need to look, for those who are playing front and central roles, at the alternative charge of riot rather than violent disorder."

On Thursday, the CPS said a 15-year-old boy from Sunderland had become the first person to be charged with riot over the recent unrest in communities across the UK.

Violence broke out in Hull and other UK cities earlier this month

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Gale Gilchrist, chief crown prosecutor for CPS North East, confirmed the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was charged in connection with disorder in Sunderland on 2 August.

She said: "This is the first such charge to be authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service in the wake of recent unrest.

“This defendant is one of a number of individuals who we expect will be charged with riot."

According to analysis by the BBC, at least 77 people have been sentenced and more than 350 charged in relation to the unrest.

The majority of charges have been for violent disorder, which carries a maximum jail sentence of five years.

People convicted of the charge can face a range of sentences, from a community order to prison terms.

The longest jail sentence so far was handed to Gareth Metcalfe, 44, from Southport, who was jailed for three years and four months. He admitting participating in violent disorder in his home town after being identified from social media footage.

10-year terms

The maximum term for rioting is 10 years, according to sentencing guidelines, with a starting point of three years.

This more serious charge can only be dealt with by judges in crown courts, who consider whether an offender's actions "escalated the level of violence and/or disorder" when determining culpability.

In Hull, around £400,000 of damage was caused when the Shoezone, O2 and Lush shops, on Jameson Street, were looted on 3 August.

Several police officers were attacked with missiles, a hotel on Ferensway was targeted, and several cars were severely damaged.

A clean-up operation is also being carried out by Hull City Council. Repairing and replacing paving is due to cost £17,600.

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