A new report has found that a "lack of confidence" in the police following the first wave of riots in London led to further disturbances across the country.

The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel found it had "encouraged people to test reactions in other areas".

It found no singular cause for the civil unrest but said it was alarmed at the "collective pessimism" among the young people it spoke to.

The independent panel looked at the causes of the riots, how communities responded and ways to avoid a recurrence.

Its 111-page report is based on visits to areas affected by the riots, as well as meetings at a young offenders institution with some of the perpetrators.

The report stated: "Lack of confidence in the police response to the initial riots encouraged people to test reactions in other areas.

"Rioters believed they would be able to loot and damage without being challenged by the police. In the hardest-hit areas, they were correct."

The report ends by saying that there had been a breakdown in one of the police's founding principles: "The police are the public and the public are the police."

Acting Wandsworth borough commander Gerry Campbell this week highlighted some of the statistics relating to rioting in Wandsworth.

He states that 109 businesses were attacked, particularly in Clapham Junction, but with offences also in Tooting, Balham and Putney.

To date 179 suspects have been arrested, 102 charged and put before the courts and 49 people convicted.

To read the full independent report visit 5daysinaugust.co.uk/ and for more from Detective Superintendent Campbell see Your Say, Page 10.