Hartlepool Mosque: 'Heart-warming' support after the violent disorder
Today is exactly one month since people took to the streets
A mosque in Hartlepool says there has not been any negative comments towards them since the violent disorder.
Today marks exactly one month since people took to the streets.
Tahir Selby, Imam of the Nasir Mosque, said: "We had people coming to the mosque bringing gifts and sending cards and just coming to show their support and things like that. The reaction from the people has been a great positive for us and it's been very, very pleasing to see the love that people have for us at the mosque and they recognise us as part of the community.
"We've had visits from many people. I think obviously there's been an underlying feeling in Hartlepool that's come to a head and now people are realising that some people are not happy, not unhappy with the mosque, but I think it's frustration with what's happening in the country.
"I run myself a free Islamic course so if anybody wants to learn about Islam they get a free course. It's online so it goes all around the world. We bring so many people in and we try and integrate. We've always had this policy of trying to explain what is Islam and we move these barriers there and build bridges.
"I'm very pleased that the Government has come down hard. This teaches a lesson as well that this sort of behaviour is not good. It was very sad for me to see that youngsters were joining up and being pushed to throw bricks and things like that, so they need to learn that this is not the behaviour. They're our future.
"This isn't the fault of ayslum seekers. They've come over from different countries because of the poor condition in their countries, so they've come here and now the Government are the ones that are giving them the benefits, putting them into different places. So I can understand the resentment but it's not the asylum seekers' fault. It's the system."
Many men, women and children have been arrested for their role in the riots with court sentences being dished out.
Matt Storey, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, said: "If anyone is considering any type of disorder like this, the punishment will be severe. The consequences are grave and my hope is that this message is out there and that hopefully is why things have quietened down a little bit.
"I'm really proud of what the police have done. I've been out and about on the streets speaking to people affected, businesses and local people, and everyone has said how pleased they were with the response to the police. I think it's really improved relations as well between the police and communities that have been affected.
"I think the punishments are the fact that the criminal justice system kicked into gear so quickly, and got people through the courts and sentenced quickly and sentenced severely as well has sent a clear message. My hope is that that in itself is a deterrent to people. The punishments will be severe and you won't get away with this.
"People are afraid and there's clearly a real effort now to bring people together that rebuilding effort and I want to be a key part of that. I've convened some meetings to bring communities together and find out what we can do next because we're not going to let these people win. We have to make sure that we celebrate that diversity and the different cultures that we have here.
"I was talking to some ethnic minority community activists who were really keen that they want to talk to people who may have some prejudice views, they want to try and break those barriers down. There's a restorative justice aspect to that really about finding out why do people have certain opinions, why do they think a certain way and just try and myth bust because there's a lot of misinformation out there."
Cleveland Police say they will find everyone who was involved.