Council staff begin city-wide visits to offer reassurance to communities after riots
HERE FOR YOU: Officers and elected members of Hull City Council meet residents and businesses in Spring Bank during the first of a series of visits planned across the city
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
City council staff are to go on a series of visits across Hull to reassure residents, businesses and communities after rioting across the city centre caused fear and unprecedented levels of damage to public and private property.
People who engaged in widespread disorder on August 3 are continuing to be identified and prosecuted, as well as others who have committed online offences, with those convicted already serving prison sentences.
And as the city continues to recover, teams from Hull City Council’s city safe and neighbourhood and housing services are to take part in a “proactive programme of visits to help reassure residents, businesses and communities following the recent scenes of violent criminality in the city centre”.
The visits will see the council working alongside representatives from partner organisations, including Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, and are in addition to existing engagement work already underway in communities.
The council said the visits will allow it to engage, listen and respond to concerns and feedback from residents and “help everyone in the city feel safe”.
The council’s neighbourhood teams cover the city’s 21 wards and play an important role in addressing local priorities and contributing to achieving the city’s aspirations, it said.
The staff support elected members in carrying out leadership roles in their area, listen to communities and support the delivery of frontline services that meet the needs of residents.
The neighbourhood nuisance team responds to reports of antisocial behaviour and works with victims and local communities to tackle and resolve issues. This may include noise nuisance, verbal abuse, intimidation, and harassment.
While the initial visits will be carried out with community leaders and groups known to the council and its partners, they can also be requested by any person or group in the city.
Councillor Jack Haines, portfolio holder for communications and communities, said: “As a council, we’re committed to doing all we can to support and reassure our city’s population following the disgraceful scenes recently witnessed on August 3rd.
SUPPORT: Councillor Jack Haines, second from right, with staff from Lush in Jameson Street. The store was among those damaged and looted on August 3
“We are committed to listening to, supporting, and standing alongside all of Hull’s diverse communities to tackle racism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate.
“While the actions of a small minority of thugs and criminals do not speak for Hull, we know that these events have caused understandable fear and concern. Now we must provide reassurance and support for our communities.
“In the coming days, the council’s staff will be out and about, delivering this programme of extra proactive visits, to listen to residents, businesses and communities.”
To find out who your neighbourhood coordinator is, and to book a visit, or if you have concerns around anti-social behaviour and need to report these to the council, visit:https://www.hull.gov.uk/communityresilience.
The cost of the rioting so far has been £270,000 to Humberside Police, £17,000 to the council, and £13,664 to TransPennine Express, while goods worth £40,000 were stolen from an O2 store in Jameson Street. Eleven police officers were injured, with one scarred for life.
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