03 August 2024 , 19:59
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The burned-out Citizens Advice Bureau was the only place in Sunderland able to give free help under the government’s Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service
Violence by far right thugs has robbed struggling families in Sunderland of vital help to prevent them losing their homes.
A mob set fire to the Citizens Advice Bureau - which is next door to the Police station in the city centre during a riot on Friday evening. The office gave free advice on debt crisis and fuel and food poverty.
And it was the only place in Sunderland able to give free help under the government’s Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. The scheme provides legal assistance and in-court representation to families facing repossession proceedings.
In the aftermath of Friday’s riot, the nearest available provider is now seven miles away in South Shields.
Citizens Advice’s building was completely gutted by fire - with smoke damage reported inside the adjoining police station.
After viewing the damage yesterday morning (SAT), Sunderland Citizens Advice chief officer Denise Irving told the Sunderland Echo: "We are absolutely devastated about what has happened. It has thrown us so far back that we don’t know what we are going to do."
She added: "It’s our money advice unit where we would offer crisis advice on a daily basis as well as providing food support, and we now just don’t know where we are going to be on Monday and whether we will be able to operate.
"We generally get around 30 people per day coming in and asking for help and around 100 calls in need of crisis support.
"On Monday I am going to be stood on the pavement trying to manage the situation.
"I don’t know what these people’s motivation was in terms of targeting our unit but all we are concerned about now is how we are going to meet the needs of the community."
Keir Starmer warned far-right thugs "the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things" during a call with senior ministers - including Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "This afternoon the Prime Minister convened senior Ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Justice Secretary and the Policing Minister to discuss the incidents of public disorder and unrest we have seen in towns and cities in recent days.
"The Prime Minister began by thanking the police who responded to the violence committed by a small minority of thugs in Sunderland last night which injured four officers. Addressing the scenes of disorder we have seen today, the Prime Minister set out that the police have our full support to take action against extremists on our streets who are attacking police officers, disrupting local businesses and attempting to sow hate by intimidating communities.
"The Home Secretary updated on the ongoing police response to outbreaks of disorder. She said we will work with them to ensure there are consequences, arrests and prosecutions for those responsible. The Justice Secretary added that already offenders who have committed violence over the last few days have been remanded in custody and the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible.
"The Deputy Prime Minister said we are working with local authorities to ensure members of the community who have been targeted by thuggish extremists have the support they need.
"The Prime Minister ended by saying the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things. He said there is no excuse for violence of any kind and reiterated that the government backs the police to take all necessary action to keep our streets safe."