Riot victims are calling on Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister to meet with them to explain why they are still awaiting compensation more than two years on.
Bushra Ahmed owned one of the buildings destroyed by fire in London Road, Croydon, which included her family’s Crystal Clean launderette and dry cleaning business.
She had hoped her claim would be dealt with in August 2012 but she is still waiting to see how much money the Government will pay her for the loss of the machinery.
Until she receives this compensation she says she cannot reopen the business.
And the West Croydon Voice founder (pictured above) says she knows of others in a similar position.
She said: “There are still people who need to be paid.
“It has taken far too long and there are no excuses for it and we want the mayor and Cameron to sit down with us and hear what we have been through so they can make sure it never happens again.”
Her comments come after Croydon North MP Steve Reed obtained Met Police figures about claims made under the Riot Damages Act 1886.
According to the figures there were 133 victims still waiting for compensation at the start of last November.
Claims totalling £229m had been made under the Riot Damages Act 1886 and only £46.9m million (15.7 per cent) had been paid to claimants.
Claimants include Spices Cash and Carry owner Ganapathy Kasinathan who says he received half of what he thought his business was worth.
Shadow Home Office minister Mr Reed said: “It’s disgraceful there are still residents and business owners facing financial hardship because they have received either too little compensation or nothing at all.”
But a spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) aid: “It is simply untrue to say people are yet to receive a penny following the 2011 riots in London.
“Everyone who wasn’t insured and made a valid claim has been paid and over 96 per cent of insured claims have been settled. Only the most complex cases remain.”
And she says the deputy mayor for policing and crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, met some claimants last summer to hear their concerns.
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