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| Lessons of Bristol's Tesco riots helped deter August unrest | Lessons of Bristol's Tesco riots helped deter August unrest |
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| The decades since the riots of 1980 have seen regeneration transform St Paul's and Stokes Croft, but Bristol's inner-city communities are still capable of causing the authorities serious trouble. | The decades since the riots of 1980 have seen regeneration transform St Paul's and Stokes Croft, but Bristol's inner-city communities are still capable of causing the authorities serious trouble. |
| In late April last year a long-running campaign against a new Tesco store in Stokes Croft erupted into violence when 160 riot police raided a local squat. Eighty-four people were arrested; 17 were later sentenced. Officers and bystanders sustained injuries, and Avon and Somerset police were accused of being heavy-handed. | In late April last year a long-running campaign against a new Tesco store in Stokes Croft erupted into violence when 160 riot police raided a local squat. Eighty-four people were arrested; 17 were later sentenced. Officers and bystanders sustained injuries, and Avon and Somerset police were accused of being heavy-handed. |
| Just over three months later came the threat of more disturbances. On Monday 8 August, as unrest raged elsewhere in England, about 100 people gathered in Stokes Croft and St Paul's and headed towards Cabot Circus, Bristol's gleaming new shopping centre less than a mile away. BBM messages circulated encouraging people to join the "badness", although witnesses interviewed for the Reading the Riots project later described an atmosphere of mischief rather than anger. | Just over three months later came the threat of more disturbances. On Monday 8 August, as unrest raged elsewhere in England, about 100 people gathered in Stokes Croft and St Paul's and headed towards Cabot Circus, Bristol's gleaming new shopping centre less than a mile away. BBM messages circulated encouraging people to join the "badness", although witnesses interviewed for the Reading the Riots project later described an atmosphere of mischief rather than anger. |
| But this time, it appears, the police had learned some important lessons. "The police were very firm but very even-handed," said Delroy Hibbert, a community activist who spent the evening disarming would-be rioters. This was in stark contrast to April, he said, when police drafted in from south Wales had "turned bystanders into rioters". | But this time, it appears, the police had learned some important lessons. "The police were very firm but very even-handed," said Delroy Hibbert, a community activist who spent the evening disarming would-be rioters. This was in stark contrast to April, he said, when police drafted in from south Wales had "turned bystanders into rioters". |
| "I saw a particular incident where a senior officer ordered younger officers to calm down. Watching this, you could feel what had previously been a tense crowd relax as well. Rather than getting heavy-handed, that one officer managed to dissipate a lot of tension," Hibbert said. | "I saw a particular incident where a senior officer ordered younger officers to calm down. Watching this, you could feel what had previously been a tense crowd relax as well. Rather than getting heavy-handed, that one officer managed to dissipate a lot of tension," Hibbert said. |
| Police stationed themselves along the stretch of the M32 that divides Stokes Croft and the city centre, arresting those who tried to break through to the shopping areas. The remaining small groups were funnelled into St Paul's in an attempt to separate them. A few cars and bins were set alight, and a jeweller's at Cabot Circus was raided. By 3am, however, the disturbances were over. | Police stationed themselves along the stretch of the M32 that divides Stokes Croft and the city centre, arresting those who tried to break through to the shopping areas. The remaining small groups were funnelled into St Paul's in an attempt to separate them. A few cars and bins were set alight, and a jeweller's at Cabot Circus was raided. By 3am, however, the disturbances were over. |
| "I think if they had broken through and trashed the shops, it would have been totally different, but we managed to hold the line," said Assistant Chief Constable John Long, who was gold commander that night. "Most of those who were involved were arrested and it stopped any further copycat rioting." | "I think if they had broken through and trashed the shops, it would have been totally different, but we managed to hold the line," said Assistant Chief Constable John Long, who was gold commander that night. "Most of those who were involved were arrested and it stopped any further copycat rioting." |
| Hibbert said: "A lot of people would have come out if the kids had got to Cabot Circus. But the police, as soon as they saw groups of kids, were stopping and searching them to drive them out of the area." | Hibbert said: "A lot of people would have come out if the kids had got to Cabot Circus. But the police, as soon as they saw groups of kids, were stopping and searching them to drive them out of the area." |
| Ch Insp Mark Jackson, head of neighbourhood policing in east Bristol, highlighted the work of the police's public contact team, which spent the day updating businesses and residents. They found a community that had had enough. "I think those who wanted to make a peaceful point [in April] were shocked that their cause was hijacked," Jackson said. "They realised they needed to distance themselves from that violent approach." | Ch Insp Mark Jackson, head of neighbourhood policing in east Bristol, highlighted the work of the police's public contact team, which spent the day updating businesses and residents. They found a community that had had enough. "I think those who wanted to make a peaceful point [in April] were shocked that their cause was hijacked," Jackson said. "They realised they needed to distance themselves from that violent approach." |
| Many members of St Paul's African-Caribbean community were unhappy that April's events had brought riots to their doorsteps. On 8 August the community rallied around to keep young people at home. | Many members of St Paul's African-Caribbean community were unhappy that April's events had brought riots to their doorsteps. On 8 August the community rallied around to keep young people at home. |
| "The last riots, that was definitely not our fight. That was young black boys just being taken advantage of. It was their own fault, but parents learned, so there was less of a takeup [in August]," said Julian Davis, another St Paul's activist who joined Hibbert in disarming rioters. | "The last riots, that was definitely not our fight. That was young black boys just being taken advantage of. It was their own fault, but parents learned, so there was less of a takeup [in August]," said Julian Davis, another St Paul's activist who joined Hibbert in disarming rioters. |
| "A lot of us don't associate with those who've got anything to do with the Tesco stuff," said Clive Smith, a local filmmaker who recorded the disturbances. "The rumour was that they [the anti-Tesco protesters] were part of what was going on [in August]. Our children are not fools to that kind of thing." | "A lot of us don't associate with those who've got anything to do with the Tesco stuff," said Clive Smith, a local filmmaker who recorded the disturbances. "The rumour was that they [the anti-Tesco protesters] were part of what was going on [in August]. Our children are not fools to that kind of thing." |
| One 14-year-old, who didn't want to be named, said he had wanted to go on to the streets of St Paul's to have a look, but his uncle had told him to stay put. "It's respect. He's my uncle, so I have to listen to him." | One 14-year-old, who didn't want to be named, said he had wanted to go on to the streets of St Paul's to have a look, but his uncle had told him to stay put. "It's respect. He's my uncle, so I have to listen to him." |
| Those convicted over the Tesco riots were given heavy sentences – an average of nearly two years per person, handed out in a blaze of publicity just as the August riots started in London. "A lot of people saw the arrests," said Jack, an 18-year-old student from the suburb of St Andrew's. "That was a real big scare for people, and probably why they didn't get so involved in August." | Those convicted over the Tesco riots were given heavy sentences – an average of nearly two years per person, handed out in a blaze of publicity just as the August riots started in London. "A lot of people saw the arrests," said Jack, an 18-year-old student from the suburb of St Andrew's. "That was a real big scare for people, and probably why they didn't get so involved in August." |
| Witnesses' claims that most people on the streets weren't local youths are to some extent supported by the council, which refers to the "older profile" of Bristol's August unrest. According to the Home Office, of the 53 people arrested in Bristol, 43% were over 25 – the highest proportion of over-25s in any of the riot-hit cities, compared with a nationwide average of 28% – and 31% were aged 10 to 17. | Witnesses' claims that most people on the streets weren't local youths are to some extent supported by the council, which refers to the "older profile" of Bristol's August unrest. According to the Home Office, of the 53 people arrested in Bristol, 43% were over 25 – the highest proportion of over-25s in any of the riot-hit cities, compared with a nationwide average of 28% – and 31% were aged 10 to 17. |
| Others put the lack of riots down to reductions in drug-dealing, muggings and gang activity. Across Bristol, 14 neighbourhood partnerships (NPs), made up of local police, councillors, residents and council workers make decisions on how to improve neighbourhoods. Between 2009-10 and 2010-11 in Stokes Croft, antisocial behaviour dropped by almost 10%. | Others put the lack of riots down to reductions in drug-dealing, muggings and gang activity. Across Bristol, 14 neighbourhood partnerships (NPs), made up of local police, councillors, residents and council workers make decisions on how to improve neighbourhoods. Between 2009-10 and 2010-11 in Stokes Croft, antisocial behaviour dropped by almost 10%. |
| "This has happened in the estates that would have rioted," said Pete Bullard, a member of the St Paul's Unlimited community partnership. "It's given people a place to go to voice their frustrations. They can see that things are getting done." | "This has happened in the estates that would have rioted," said Pete Bullard, a member of the St Paul's Unlimited community partnership. "It's given people a place to go to voice their frustrations. They can see that things are getting done." |
| In Stapleton Road, Easton – dubbed Britain's "most dangerous street" in 2005, and the poorest part of the south-west – all was quiet in August. "There didn't appear to be the same feeling of disaffection," said Dominic Murphy, of Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill NP. "We can just guess, but it's something to do with better liaisons between the community and the authorities, not just the police." | In Stapleton Road, Easton – dubbed Britain's "most dangerous street" in 2005, and the poorest part of the south-west – all was quiet in August. "There didn't appear to be the same feeling of disaffection," said Dominic Murphy, of Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill NP. "We can just guess, but it's something to do with better liaisons between the community and the authorities, not just the police." |
| Even Bristol's tradition of street art is, according to Gary Hopkins of Bristol council, part of a new inclusiveness that has led to less disaffection. "I think there's a huge pride in Bristol, because it's different. It's got a slightly alternative way of doing things. The street art interests a lot of young people, and in Bristol we allow it and encourage it. And that means that some people who would be completely alienated aren't," he said. | Even Bristol's tradition of street art is, according to Gary Hopkins of Bristol council, part of a new inclusiveness that has led to less disaffection. "I think there's a huge pride in Bristol, because it's different. It's got a slightly alternative way of doing things. The street art interests a lot of young people, and in Bristol we allow it and encourage it. And that means that some people who would be completely alienated aren't," he said. |
| Hibbert agreed that Bristol was open-minded and cosmopolitan, but said this did not mean Bristol didn't do riots – just not the kind seen in August. "I don't think Bristol really does copycat riots, I think we tend to start the riots. The rest of the country should watch out if Bristol riots." | Hibbert agreed that Bristol was open-minded and cosmopolitan, but said this did not mean Bristol didn't do riots – just not the kind seen in August. "I don't think Bristol really does copycat riots, I think we tend to start the riots. The rest of the country should watch out if Bristol riots." |
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