Riot looters captured on housing estate CCTV

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Legal

Four youths were sentenced yesterday for handling stolen goods looted during last year's riots - after being caught on CCTV.

Camden Council has said that two of the offenders live with parents in social housing on the Ampthill Square housing estate in Mornington Crescent. Despite widespread talk of evictions for those involved in the riots, the council has confirmed that no such steps will be taken.

Three of the youths are below 18 and cannot be named for legal reasons but were sentenced to a mixture of referral and community orders and unpaid work by Wood Green Crown Court. Oscar Faina, 19, was given a 12-month community order and 75 hours unpaid work.

The youths were spotted on CCTV carrying boxes of camera equipment stolen from the nearby Calumet photographic store on Drummond Street. They made no attempt to conceal the stolen goods and seemed unaware that they were being filmed as they entered the Oxenholme block on the Ampthill Square estate.

CCTV staff passed images from the recordings to the Regents Park Safer Neighbourhood team. Council officers and the police then worked together to identify the youths.

One of the group caught on CCTV (pictured) has not been identified and remains at large.

Camden Council cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Abdul Hai, said: “This is a great example of how Camden and the police can come together and solve crime.  Thanks to quick thinking from our staff we were able to alert police immediately.

“This conviction is an example of how we are helping to keep Camden a safer place to live, visit and do business.  We will not allow people who don't obey the law to get away with it in Camden, the message is clear that they should stay away.”