The Government's firm refusal to increase the £2.22 million it has said it will pay towards the cost of last July's Bradford riots is deeply disappointing. The official view is spelled out in the comments today from Home Office Minister John Denham: that we should be thankful the rules have been bent to allow even that special grant towards the £11 million bill for extra policing and damage caused by the disturbances that rocked the city.

And Mr Denham made it plain that the money on the table is only to help towards the £3.7 million cost of extra policing. There will be no contribution towards the estimated £7 million cost of damage inflicted on property and businesses by the rioters for which the police may be responsible under the Riot Damages Act 1886.

Even on the policing costs alone, the West Yorkshire Police will have a £1.5 million shortfall which will have to be bridged somehow - either through a reduction in the service the police can provide or through increased Council tax. Meeting the total cost will either mean swingeing cuts or significant tax increases. Either of these measures are bound to be deeply resented by the public.

Mr Denham pointed out that the Lancashire Police Authority are intending to resist the insurance claims against them under the Riot Damages Act 1886. It is not clear whether that was a hint that West Yorkshire Police should do the same. However, some challenge to this archaic Act, which seems ill-suited to our modern times, is surely overdue.