Town makes just three riot compensation claims

A police car was set alight during Hartlepool's riots

Just three claims were made for riot compensation in a town hit by this summer's disorder.

The BBC has learned only three claims were made from Hartlepool under the Riot Compensation Scheme, whereas 11 were made from Sunderland and 35 from Middlesbrough.

Rob Davison, who runs Spacebar Arcade in Sunderland, which experienced smoke and physical damage, has submitted a claim but said he believed the low numbers may be due to "businesses not being aware".

Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said three drop-in sessions were held to advertise the programme.

Rioting broke out in Hartlepool on 31 July, followed by Sunderland on 2 August and Middlesbrough on 4 August.

The Riot Compensation Act says victims of criminal damage during civil unrest in England and Wales are entitled to claim for losses, even if they are not insured or their insurance will not pay out.

In response to Freedom of Information requests, the offices of both Cleveland and Northumbria PCCs revealed how many compensation claims had been made to them under the scheme.

The Office of the Cleveland PCC said it had not paid out any money to victims yet, whereas Northumbria declined to say how much money it had handed out.

Neither body said whether it had accepted all the claims received.

Riots broke out in Sunderland on 2 August

Mr Davison said he only found out about the scheme through a neighbouring business.

He said he had made a compensation claim but called the process "very slow", adding he had not heard back about whether he had been successful.

"As a small business, we're relying on this compensation to cover repair costs," he said. "In the meantime, I've had to cover these expenses out of pocket."

Idrees Rashid, at Middlesbrough's community interest group BME Network, said the compensation scheme had been well publicised in the town.

He also said voluntary organisations took a "proactive role", with people going "door-to-door to speak with residents affected by the disorder".

Cleveland PCC said some affected by the riots may have received money from their insurance and so would not have needed the compensation scheme, whereas Northumbria PCC said some of the claims it received from Sunderland were on behalf of "several occupants".

It also said it used the media to publicise the scheme.

Both organisations said people could still apply for the scheme if they believed they qualified.