David Cameron has announced a raft of new government initiatives in the wake of the rioting and looting seen on the streets of the UK in the past few days.

Speaking from the floor of the House of Commons, he outlined plans to review curfew and sentencing powers, extend gang injunctions across the UK, and to initiate a ministerial report looking at gang culture. Controversially, he also suggested that he would look at putting powers in place to stop people using social networking sites during times of civil unrest. He said: "We are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality."

The Prime Minister also announced a raft of measures to compensate victims of violence and looting. He said: "On repairing the damages, I can confirm that any individual, homeowner or business that has suffered damage to or loss of their buildings or property as a result of rioting, can seek compensation under the Riot Damages Act, even if uninsured."

Taking questions following his speech, he answered calls for a reversal of the planned cuts to policing by claiming that, should something similar to the riots happen again, the ability to respond would not be affected.

Posted August 11 2011 at 1515 by Phil. Comment by emailing: philip.mason@pavpub.com