Idrees Rashid, of Middlesbrough community interest group BME Network, said the compensation scheme had been well publicized in the town.

He also said voluntary organizations took a “proactive role”, with people going “door to door to talk to residents affected by the disorder”.

Cleveland PCC said some riot-affected people may have received insurance money and therefore would not have needed the compensation scheme, while Northumbria PCC said some of the claims it received from Sunderland were on behalf of “a number of occupiers.” .

He also said he used the media to publicize the plan.

Both organizations said people could still apply for the scheme if they believed they qualified.