George Tyndale: Why should we pay for riot damage?

Aug 14 2011 by George Tyndale, Sunday Mercury

GUESS who’s going to foot the bill for the £200 million riot damage bill?

That’s right, you and me. Such are the machinations of the insurance industry that taxpayers are likely to pick up the tab.

The little-known 1886 Riot Damages Act (no, me neither) apparently allows insurance companies, individuals and businesses to reclaim their losses from the local police authorities we all help fund.

And, of course, you can be sure that the insurers won’t be slow to exploit this long forgotten loophole in the law.

The Association of British Insurers says its members will use the 1886 act to make the maximum possible claim to cut their losses.

And here’s another kick in the teeth to those of us who pay hefty premiums. Families and businesses who have no insurance can make a claim for any losses against the cash-strapped cops, too.

Let’s not forget, also, that where the insurance companies are forced to pay out, we’ll all end up victims because they’ll just hike the premiums for the rest of us. It is a lose-lose situation.

So next time you have to pay your house or car insurance, spare a thought for those poor, disadvantaged kids who were forced to go on a looting spree because they had no future to look forward to.

Make it spiteful.