Croydon saw the highest level of crime in the UK during the riots an official national review panel has revealed.

Figures show 430 reported crimes took place in Croydon, 44 more than the next highest Manchester and 116 more than Southwark, the second highest London borough.

The panel chaired by Darra Singh OBE, criticized the police response to the rioting in August that devastated parts of the borough, and areas across the UK in its interim report titled 5 Days in August.

They state: “Croydon at one stage had fewer than 100 officers to cope with groups numbering several hundred.

“This is partly because officers had been transferred to other areas considered more at risk of rioting.

“The police were in many cases unprepared for the scale but also crucially the type of disturbances which did not sit well with their traditional rioting response.”

A timeline of the rioting suggested trouble in Croydon began at 4pm on August 8, and was in full swing by 7pm.

The burning of Reeves Furniture store at 9pm and the killing of Trevor Ellis, from Brixton Hill at 9.15pm are also highlighted.

A breakdown of those who offended show 90 per cent are men with a quarter under 18 and an even mix of black, white and Asian ethnicity.

The report states: “Our unique analysis shows that 7 per cent of those brought before the courts were living in the 3 per cent most deprived postcodes in the country.”

A statement from the Metropolitan Police has been issued defending its performance.

It states: “The scale of the disorder in August was unprecedented in London and nationally.

“In light of this the police faced exceptional challenges.

“In order to ensure the police response is fit to respond to any such situation in the future the MPS has been conducting a thorough review of our emergency plans, including implementing changes for faster deployment of larger numbers of officers.

“It is understandable that some people feel police abandoned them.

"We have already accepted that we did not have enough officers available quickly enough to prevent the disorder spreading in London, however the MPS did everything it could with the resources available to prioritise protecting life.”

Croydon Council was also praised for its recovery efforts, providing more than £200,000 of interest free loans to the worst affected traders to help them re-open as quickly as possible.

They also established the Croydon Enterprise Loan Fund, giving £1,000 to any business with a crime reference number without the business having to ask for it.