Greedy bankers and MPs 'to blame for summer unrest'

The greed of bankers and politicians was one of the causes of the London riots, an inquiry into this summer's unrest heard.

Residents in Croydon vented their frustration to an independent panel with teacher Julian Streifer, 35, saying: "It definitely had an influence. When people see rich bankers getting away with it, behaving like criminals within the law, it encourages unemployed people to steal."

Andrew Pelling, former Conservative MP for Croydon Central, who now works in the City, said it was "a very strong point", adding: "I think that's part of the background to what happened. There's no direct causal link but there's certainly a feeling there's something rotten."

Others said a "take, take, take" society was one cause of the riots.

Graham Reeves, 52, said the courts must come down hard on criminals guilty of the sort of violence that saw his family business, Reeves furniture store, burned to the ground. The store's office manager, Joanne Thibeault, 34, backed government plans to give police emergency powers to introduce street curfews.

She told the meeting in Croydon's Braithwaite Hall last night that she watched live TV footage of her workplace being destroyed on August 8, adding: "I was screaming in total disbelief."

Calls for compulsory national service were made by 63-year-old Helen Buckland. "That's the only thing I can think of that would bring some sort of control. It would have to be compulsory."

The retired civil servant watched three buildings go up in flames. "I saw people opening the shutters of shops like cans of food," she added.

Darra Singh, chairman of the national Riots, Communities and Victims Panel, said he had been moved by "harrowing" accounts. He also announced that the inquiry would ask rioters why they took part in the violence and looting.