No translation help for riot forms, PCC says

The office for a police and crime commissioner has said the Home Office did not help translate riot compensation forms to help those affected by last summer's disorder.

In the wake of a stabbing attack in Southport, rioting broke out across the country, with disorder in Hartlepool on 31 July, followed by Sunderland on 2 August and Middlesbrough on 4 August.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said that many of those affected did not speak English as a first language and so they would have expected some translation help with the forms designed to offer support.

The Home Office declined to comment.

The Riot Compensation Act states that 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.

The office of Cleveland PCC said three drop-in sessions were held for people who wanted more information about the scheme in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

"There was clearly some assistance needed," the PCC spokeswoman said.

"There's always an assumption that everyone speaks English and that's not always the case."

At the drop-ins, the team helped people fill out the forms required to claim compensation.

People were largely seeking help over vehicle or property damage such as smashed windows, she said.

When the PCC make leaflets or forms it typically seeks to translate them to some of the most common languages spoken in the region such as Urdu.

"You just worry that people may not have access to the support they need if they do not have the ability to read or write in English – it will be a challenge to fill out that form," the spokeswoman said.

She said the team asked the Home Office to translate the riot compensation forms but the request was denied.

The office of Northumbria PCC said it had also "raised the matter" with the Home Office when asked if it shared similar frustrations.

Money paid out as part of the scheme is coming out of local police budgets.

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