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| Debates after the riots find local differences and a common theme | Debates after the riots find local differences and a common theme |
| (9 months later) | |
| The English riots were described as a tidal wave of copycat disorder that swept across towns and cities with uncanny repetition. But that characterisation belies the differences – some subtle, others stark – between the various scenes of trouble. | The English riots were described as a tidal wave of copycat disorder that swept across towns and cities with uncanny repetition. But that characterisation belies the differences – some subtle, others stark – between the various scenes of trouble. |
| The Guardian and London School of Economics hosted a series of community conversations in seven of the areas worst affected, providing an opportunity for those whose lives had been changed most by the riots to give their views. | The Guardian and London School of Economics hosted a series of community conversations in seven of the areas worst affected, providing an opportunity for those whose lives had been changed most by the riots to give their views. |
| The events were open and free, attracting a mix of people who came forward to debate the findings of the first phase of Reading the Riots and express their views about what should be done to mend their communities. | The events were open and free, attracting a mix of people who came forward to debate the findings of the first phase of Reading the Riots and express their views about what should be done to mend their communities. |
| In most places there were feelings of bewilderment, anger and shame – not all of it directed toward rioters – plus a sense that communities had been neglected by the government before the riots and hastily abandoned afterwards. | In most places there were feelings of bewilderment, anger and shame – not all of it directed toward rioters – plus a sense that communities had been neglected by the government before the riots and hastily abandoned afterwards. |
| The perspectives of the 600 participants often conflicted. Some felt strongly that entrenched inequalities underlay the outbreaks of unrest; others rejected entirely the idea that political grievances could explain rioting. There were mixed responses to the suggestion that toxic relations between police and communities had been a significant driver of the disorder. | The perspectives of the 600 participants often conflicted. Some felt strongly that entrenched inequalities underlay the outbreaks of unrest; others rejected entirely the idea that political grievances could explain rioting. There were mixed responses to the suggestion that toxic relations between police and communities had been a significant driver of the disorder. |
| But there was one unifying theme: although few participants disputed that young people were largely responsible for the disorder, they frequently expressed empathy for the plight of younger generations in their neighbourhoods. Often they believed that the key to preventing further disorder was investment in youth. | But there was one unifying theme: although few participants disputed that young people were largely responsible for the disorder, they frequently expressed empathy for the plight of younger generations in their neighbourhoods. Often they believed that the key to preventing further disorder was investment in youth. |
| In Tottenham, the conversation was held in partnership with a citizens' inquiry. The conclusion was that although the shooting of a local man, Mark Duggan, may have been the trigger for rioting, the sustained unrest was also a result of high youth unemployment and poor relations with police. | In Tottenham, the conversation was held in partnership with a citizens' inquiry. The conclusion was that although the shooting of a local man, Mark Duggan, may have been the trigger for rioting, the sustained unrest was also a result of high youth unemployment and poor relations with police. |
| The citizens' inquiry report, produced by a grassroots coalition of locals, found that many in the community believed their area was left to burn, and revealed the need for regeneration. Some in the audience expressed concern at what they saw as disproportionate prison sentences for convicted rioters. There was also anger – seemingly widely shared – that borough police had declined to participate in the meeting. | The citizens' inquiry report, produced by a grassroots coalition of locals, found that many in the community believed their area was left to burn, and revealed the need for regeneration. Some in the audience expressed concern at what they saw as disproportionate prison sentences for convicted rioters. There was also anger – seemingly widely shared – that borough police had declined to participate in the meeting. |
| In Peckham, some of the distrust was directed towards the Guardian and LSE, which a few participants portrayed as outsiders who would struggle to comprehend the hardships faced in the area. Local challenges included tense relations with police, cuts to funding for services, and the impact of negative media portrayals of the borough and its young people. | In Peckham, some of the distrust was directed towards the Guardian and LSE, which a few participants portrayed as outsiders who would struggle to comprehend the hardships faced in the area. Local challenges included tense relations with police, cuts to funding for services, and the impact of negative media portrayals of the borough and its young people. |
| It was not uncommon in Peckham, as elsewhere in the country, for people who had lost homes or businesses to express some sympathy for rioters. Jan Asante, whose boutique was looted, said she had given work experience to a young woman who had been present when her store was ransacked. She described two other teenagers charged with looting as "children [who] need to be rehabilitated". | It was not uncommon in Peckham, as elsewhere in the country, for people who had lost homes or businesses to express some sympathy for rioters. Jan Asante, whose boutique was looted, said she had given work experience to a young woman who had been present when her store was ransacked. She described two other teenagers charged with looting as "children [who] need to be rehabilitated". |
| Croydon saw some of the worst rioting last August. Some in the community argued that the trouble had largely been caused by outsiders travelling to the area, but one man said this was a myth, pointing out that it was a local painter and decorator, Gordon Thompson, who had committed the area's most publicised crime: starting a fire at the Reeves furniture store. | Croydon saw some of the worst rioting last August. Some in the community argued that the trouble had largely been caused by outsiders travelling to the area, but one man said this was a myth, pointing out that it was a local painter and decorator, Gordon Thompson, who had committed the area's most publicised crime: starting a fire at the Reeves furniture store. |
| "It was local people who nicked cigarettes and alcohol on the street. It's a local issue and it needs local solutions," he said. There was no agreement on what those solutions might be, but some said Croydon had declined in recent years as neighbouring boroughs had become gentrified, and was in desperate need of regeneration. | "It was local people who nicked cigarettes and alcohol on the street. It's a local issue and it needs local solutions," he said. There was no agreement on what those solutions might be, but some said Croydon had declined in recent years as neighbouring boroughs had become gentrified, and was in desperate need of regeneration. |
| A victim of arson in her 70s said: "I lived in the London Road and I will not live there again because my house no longer exists – it was burned down. These riots did not happen out of the blue. It has been years of neglect, years of people in higher positions thinking of themselves and losing contact with their communities." | A victim of arson in her 70s said: "I lived in the London Road and I will not live there again because my house no longer exists – it was burned down. These riots did not happen out of the blue. It has been years of neglect, years of people in higher positions thinking of themselves and losing contact with their communities." |
| In Birmingham, where three people were killed during the riots, there was concern that tensions between ethnic groups had increased. Others said the city had shown resilience, bringing people together at a point of crisis. Similar sentiments were expressed in Toxteth, in Liverpool, where the fact that rioting was more contained – compared with London, Birmingham and Manchester – was partly attributed to community cohesion and an outreach drive by youth workers who toured the streets, dissuading people from getting involved. | In Birmingham, where three people were killed during the riots, there was concern that tensions between ethnic groups had increased. Others said the city had shown resilience, bringing people together at a point of crisis. Similar sentiments were expressed in Toxteth, in Liverpool, where the fact that rioting was more contained – compared with London, Birmingham and Manchester – was partly attributed to community cohesion and an outreach drive by youth workers who toured the streets, dissuading people from getting involved. |
| In Manchester, some argued that the riots had been caused by anger at perceived injustices such as proposed cuts to the public sector, growing youth unemployment or bad relations with police – the latter point being disputed by Ch Supt Russ Jackson, who said the picture was more complex. | In Manchester, some argued that the riots had been caused by anger at perceived injustices such as proposed cuts to the public sector, growing youth unemployment or bad relations with police – the latter point being disputed by Ch Supt Russ Jackson, who said the picture was more complex. |
| In neighbouring Salford, such concerns were coupled with complaints that the area is often portrayed negatively by the media. One strong theme to emerge from this event, hosted by the Social Action and Research Foundation, was that while looting in nearby Manchester city centre had been about quick-grab opportunism, the disorder in Salford laid bare deeper-seated problems of deprivation and difficult police-community relations. | In neighbouring Salford, such concerns were coupled with complaints that the area is often portrayed negatively by the media. One strong theme to emerge from this event, hosted by the Social Action and Research Foundation, was that while looting in nearby Manchester city centre had been about quick-grab opportunism, the disorder in Salford laid bare deeper-seated problems of deprivation and difficult police-community relations. |
| The single sentiment echoed in every town hall and community centre was concern for the young. Residents in riot-hit areas repeatedly complained about media stigmatisation of young people who were facing widespread unemployment and, it was argued, were frequently overlooked by local and state services. | The single sentiment echoed in every town hall and community centre was concern for the young. Residents in riot-hit areas repeatedly complained about media stigmatisation of young people who were facing widespread unemployment and, it was argued, were frequently overlooked by local and state services. |
| Many said they feared that cuts in funding for youth projects would lead to deeper marginalisation. Others saw a lack of self-esteem or ambition in their young people, for which they believed older sections of the community must take some responsibility. | Many said they feared that cuts in funding for youth projects would lead to deeper marginalisation. Others saw a lack of self-esteem or ambition in their young people, for which they believed older sections of the community must take some responsibility. |
| One woman in Salford said some young people had talked about the riots as the most exciting day of their lives, adding: "Shouldn't we be asking how we've failed as adults to support our young people?" | One woman in Salford said some young people had talked about the riots as the most exciting day of their lives, adding: "Shouldn't we be asking how we've failed as adults to support our young people?" |
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