The leader of Camden Council has branded calls for rioters to be evicted as a short-sighted solution to deeper social unrest.

Earlier this week David Cameron backed councils planning to serve eviction notices to rioters living in council homes. While Camden said it would not rule out the “drastic measure”, it would only use the sanction where it was proportionate and effective.

Leader of the council, Councillor Nasim Ali said: “We believe that knee-jerk reactions would be inappropriate and could indeed, without the correct level of consideration, exacerbate the problems our communities face. This isn’t just a gang issue and the Government need to take a deep look at the recent unrest to find the root causes.

“There are potentially some deep-seated problems within communities across not just the capital but the entire country.”

Frank Dobson MP for the area, also slammed the Prime Minister’s suggestions that people who loot and plunder their own community should be kicked out of their council home.

He told the Ham&High the idea was “ill-thought out and silly”.

Cllr Ali said the council would be hosting citizen summits and using the council’s online community to explore the underlying causes of the riots.

To join the discussion visit www.wearecamden.org.