Report blames riots on lack of support and opportunities

A report into the cause of last summer’s riots has pointed to a lack of support and opportunity for young people.

The report by the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel identifies “500,000 forgotten families”.

"Families aren't getting the support they need,” the report said.

It continues: “Government and local public services should develop a strategy incorporating the principles of the Troubled Families Programme to help 500,000 ‘forgotten families’ turn their lives around.”

Additional causes cited by the report include poor parenting, an inability to prevent re-offending, materialism and a lack of confidence in police.

It also recommends that schools which fail to teach pupils to read and write should be fined.

The report is due out Wednesday but was leaked in part a day early by Sky News.

Chair of the panel, Darra Singh, expressed disappointment over the decision by Sky News to leak contents from a “near final version” of the report.

“Our remit was to give a voice to the communities and victims of the August riots,” Singh was quoted as saying by The Independent. “This leak may have impacted on our ability to ensure they receive the widest possible audience.”

The riots spread across towns and cities in England last August following the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham on 4 August.

The report estimates that up to 15,000 people took part, mostly under the age of 24 and with low levels of academic achievement.