60,

RIOT CONTROL: A NEW DffiECTION?

THE JULY RIOTS - POLICE COMPUTERS - RACIST ATTACKS

PASSPORT RAIDS: COSMETIC REVIEW - NEW CONTEMPT LAW

attacks by outsiders, whereas in other areas young people, both black and white, were responding to police harrasment and provocation on top of the pressures of unemployment and inner city deprivation. Ifthere was a common factor it would appear to be police attitudes and police methods. In all cases the police have THE JULY RIOTS behaved as a force external, hostile and beyond the control of local communities. The'July riots' actually began on June 20 when in Peckham in the light of what the The tension between the, police and Daily Telegraph described as 'a noticeable communities in the inner cities which tension here since Brixton' (22.6.81) police I erupted into violence in Brixton in April were deployed to a number of sidestreet (Bulletin no 24) came to a head in about buses. Later that night around 500 youths 30 other urban areas in July. The attacked the police and shops after a fair. In disturbances did not follow an identical the week before the riots, former prime pattern. In Southall, for example, the black minister , speaking to a youth reacted angrily to police lack of conference in London of business people, protection for the community against racist said with some prescience that 'Ifyou have August-September 1981{Page 161

__--L,~_ r

half a million young people hanging around between the crowd and the police with on the streets all day you will have a massive truncheons drawn. The one person arrested increase in juvenile crime. Of course you was Leroy Cooper, who happened to be will have racial tension when you have nearestthe police. He was charged with two young blacks with less chance of getting counts of causing grievous bodily harm to jobs.' (The Times, 2.7.81 ) The following police officers and actual bodily harm to day, speaking on a BBC Radio 4 another (Daily Post 6.7.81) programme on 'Policing the 80s', The Cooper family were already Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir pursuing a civil action against the David McNee said that the remainder ofthe Merseyside Chief Constable, Kenneth century would be 'a tough time for law and Oxford, for repeated harrassment of order'. He said: 'The greatest problem I will Leroy's brother Paul. Since May 1979 Paul have in my commisionership and that my has been arrested 14 times and asked to successor and probably his successor will attend 12 identification parades - in all but have, is getting along with the ethnic three cases no action followed and of the I minorities in this great city.' (2.7.81 ). three cases one resulted in an acquittal while " The riots proper began on Friday 3 July two cases are pending. On Thursday 9 a case' when coaches of skinheads arrived in against Paul had been thrown out of court Southall in buses decked with National because witnesses' statements had been Front banners and stickers. A gang of tampered with. A senior police officer told skinheads attacked the wife of the owner of Paul's father in April when he was pursuing an Asian shop following which large his complaints; 'You fucking niggers are all numbers of black youth came out onto the the same' (New Statesman 10.7.81) Such has streets and besieged the Hamborough been the experience of one family in Tavern where the skinheads had come to a Toxteth. rock concert. Only 30 police were on the The events after the arrest then built up. spot and by IOpm the pub had been set On the Friday, police vehicles in Toxteth ablaze with petrol bombs. By IIpm there were repeatedly stoned by roaming gangs of were 600 police on the streets fighting a youths until I am. On the Saturday. shortly pitched battle wth black youths. One Asian. after 10 pm youths stoned police cars and knocked unconscious by the police claimed started setting fire to derelict buildings. By tht he was told by a police officer 'You will 12.30 barricades had been set up and police be another Blair Peach.' (News ofthe World with riot shields were rushed in to be met S.7.81) with petrol bombs, bricks and chunks of concrete. By Sam buildings were still blazing and at 6am police reinforcements Toxteth arrived from Greater Manchester and Within hours rioting had broken out in the charged the crowd of youths. According to Toxteth area of Liverpool which was to one youth: 'They were banging their batons continue over four nights and result in 160 on their riot shields. It was like someyhing arrests and injuries to over 2S0 police from the film Zulu' (Sun6.7.8l) 'Order'was officers. In a pattern now becoming familiar restored by 7.30 am on the Sunday morning. a small incident provided the spark for the Only three arrests had been made. events. At 9pm a black motorcyclist was On the Sunday and through to early in stopped by police and questioned about the Monday morning 'all hell' was to break ownership of his machine. A crowd loose in the words of one police officer. gathered, the motorcyclist was handcuffed, Building after building was set on fire. A put in a police transit van and black community worker explained: reinforcements were summoned. The 'It was obvious why people went for the crowd began to stone the police and the police, but there were exact reasons why arrested man jumped from the van and was each ofthose buildings was hit. The bank, taken away by the crowd. A battle ensued for obvious reasons, the Racquets club

Page 162/Stale Research Bulletin (voI4) No 25/August-September 1981 l because the judges use it, Swainbanks racial issue as such. It is exclusively a crowd furniture store because people felt he was of black hooligans intent on making life ripping off the community ... The unbearable and indulging in criminal Chinese chippy was left untouched but activities.' (GlUlrdian 6.7.81) people hadn't forgotten that when the In contrast local community relations Rialto was a dance-hall it was barred to workers pointed out that they had blacks ... Now with the Racquets and the frequently warned that 'There could be an Rialto gone it's just the police' (New an explosion of anger by local black youths Societ:; 16.7.81). against the deprivation and prejudice that With 800 police in the area, including they face' and a local black journalist wrote: reinforcements from Cheshire, 'The people of Toxteth have long been and Greater Manchester the police totally dissatisfied with the type of policing they lost control of the area and withdrew at get. Some months ago a young white Ilpm. Milk floats were set on fire and woman told me that she thought people directed at the police lines, scaffoldng poles living in Liverpool 8 should be paid were used to charge the pockets of riot­ danger money for living there, not shielded police and petrol bombs rained because of crime but because of the level down. The Press Association reported at of police activity. At least, no one so far lam that looting was widespread with not a has suggested that the youngsters of police officer in sight. In one incident the Toxteth should be sent home. They are at police brought out an old fire engine and home, and bitter though it may be not to tried to hose down the rioters but the find the promised land in a strange appliance was seized and itself set on fire. country, it is infinitely more so to be At 2.15 am on Monday 6 July police fired dispossessed in one's own.' (Daily Post between 25 and 30 canisters of CS gas at the 6.7.81) crowds, the first time that CS gas had ever By Monday 6 July as fighting continued been used for 'public order' purposes in there were over 2,000 police officers mainland Britain. The New Statesman permanently on duty in Liverpool 8, drawn revealed at the end of the same week that from a dozen forces and including 60 the gas was fired in complete contravention officers from as far away as Sussex. In of the manufacturers' instructions. The parliament the mood was described in a cartridges were intended only for GlUlrdian editorial as 'overwhelmingly one penetrating walls or vehicles, never for of bafflement ... Suddenly, forces appear firing into crowds. (17.7.81) At least four to have been unleashed which nobody people were seriously injured. Chief knows how to control' (7.7.81) Constable Kenneth Oxford subsequently On Tuesday 7 July there were further established an internal inquiry into the use disturbances in Toxteth and stones and 'I' of the gas - to be carried out by an officer petrol bombs continued to be thrown at the from the Merseyside police. Later on that police. Chief Constable Oxford began to Monday the Home Secretary William blame parents for indiscipline and the Whitelaw said that the police were 'totally Home Secretary, following a visit to the right' to use the CS gas. area (when he did not leave his car) took up In Merseyside itself the Deputy Chief this approach saying 'There is a great Constable, Peter Wright, was unable to responsibility on parents to keep their comprehend what was happening and children off the streets.' (GlUlrdian 8.7.81) exclaimed 'These people are destroying Rioting broke out again on 27 July after their own neighbourhood' (New Standard police tried to stop a car believed to be 6.7.81), while Oxford, who had previously stolen. On this occasion more that 120 described black Liverpudlians as 'the police in riot gear were unable to restore product of liaisons between white order for several hours. The rioting prostitutes and African sailors' (New continued again on the following day and Statesman 17.7.81) said that 'this is not a police adopted the tactics used previously in

State Res~rch Bulletin (vol 4) No 25/August-September /98//Page /63 Manchester of driving vehicles at high '24 police wagons each manned by 10 speeds at crowds. One youth was rammed steel-helmeted riot police roared around against a wall three times by a police the shopping and housing area pinning land rover • had his back broken and alleges black and white youths to walls and that he was beaten up by police when arresting them. Several youths were arrested. The following day as the police knocked to the grounds by the wagons ... 'mobile pursuit tactic' continued a disabled The rioters moved on to take up positions man was run down by a police vehicle and in high rise flats and flyovers to hurl down dragged for some thirty yards. He rocks on the wagons. Later snatch squads subsequently died. The vehicle did not stop of police moved out into the flats. Youths and an inquiry into the incident was black and white - were kicked to the announced - to be conducted by the ground before being taken away.' assistant chief constable of Northumbria. (10.7.81) Chief Constable Oxford responding to This technique of criss crossing an area increasing demands for his resignation with vans driven at high speed with officers supported the new method: 'Our tactics of leaning out of rear doors ready to leap out driving towards them has proved to be was one which had been learned from the effective. I would much rather use this form experience of Northern Ireland, leading the of dispersal than CS gas. ' (Morning Star Guardum to report that the scene was 30.7.81) 'already bristling with a police presence that was more reminiscent of Northern Ireland than mainland Britain has yet seen. ' Manchester (10.7.81) After Toxteth it was Manchester which was The injuries inflicted on members of the to see the most serious fighting between the public were describe by one local doctor as police and youths. On Wednesday 8 July 'terrifying' (The Times 22.7.81) and while several hundred youths attacked a police Chief Constable Anderton said he would i: station and set fire to shops. Nearly all the look into any compl~ints the Greater ~ : windows of the police station were smashed Manchester Council announced that it and about a dozen vehicles in the station would set up its own investigation into yard burned out. Despite the arrival of 400 police activities. extra police the police were unable to disperse the crowd and the police station The rest of the country was attacked a second time around midnight. Attack and counter-attack Elsewhere disturbances were reported over continued until the establishment of an the weekend of the 10-12 July in 12 areas of 'uneasy calm' around 3 am. London, Preston, Hull. Wolverhampton. As fighting continued the following day Reading, Birmingham. Luton. Chester, Greater Manchester Chief Constable James Leicester. Leeds and Huddersfield. Anderton decided to abandon his previous According to the Daily Star police made 'low key' approach. In addition to bringing 1.500 arrests during the previous ten days, in the local Tactical Aid Group (the local more than half of them over the one Special Patrol Group) the police began the weekend (13.7.81). tactic (to be repeated elsewhere during the In Brixton rioting broke out again on 10 riots) of driving vehicles at high speeds at July only hours after Lord Scarman had crowds. On the afternoon of8 July the Daily completed the first phase of his enquiry into Telegraph described how'A convoy ofeight the April riots. As in other instances the police vans charged through a burning events began with police attempting to barricade on Moss Side's Park council arrest a black man. Two police cars were estate ... scattering about 100 rioters ...' burned and a Guardian journalist (9.7.81) The Daily Mirror described the witnessing the SPG beating up two young scene on the Thursday night: black girls was told by a police sergeant that

Page 164/State Research Bulletin (voI4) No 25/August-September 1981

I \... 'anything goes' (13.7.81). Five days later main objections were 'technical and legal' further rioting broke out after 100 police and on 13 July the Home Secretary told a officers, led by local divisional commander meeting of Conservative back bench MPs Brian Fairbairn, raided homes and business that the government would make available premises in search of petrol bombs after a army camps to hold those convicted of 'tip off. (One report said the search was to offences during the riots. He said that CS retrieve an unauthorised firearm taken from gas and plastic bullets were available to the a police officer during a previous raid. police and that new protective helmets and (Not. .. 24.7.81)) None were found but the other clothing and armoured vehicles would damage caused by the police was extensive be provided. In addition he referred to tests and was described by Lord Scarman as 'very with water cannon. The following day in serious indeed', including windows parliament the Prime Minister said that the smashed, doors broken down, and government would agree to the use ofwater floorboards ripped up. Scotland Yard tried cannon, CS gas and plastic bullets if chief to minimise the raid saying that since April constables wanted them. The same day the there had been 70 such raids in the Brixton army demonstrated water cannon and area (New Standard 20.7.81). Although the armoured vehicles to senior police officers Home Secretary ordered senior civil at military research establishments at servants to visit the damaged premises and Chobham in Surrey and near Derby and report immediately, the response ofthe offered armoured carriers, riot helmets, riot Metropolitan Police was to appoint Deputy sticks and training in unarmed combat. In Assistant Commissioner Geoffrey Dear to addition six British police officers, including make an internal enquiry. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Jock Wilson, arrived in Northern Ireland to discuss riot control with Government and poUce responses the RUe. From the government and the police, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir reactions to the riots were those of David McNee dismissed the idea ofa formal advocating resort to greater repression, 'third force' for riot control or the use of either in the form of the law or police plastic bullets but only 'in the immediate weaponry. After the earliest disturbances future'. Instead he called for a 'mini' Riot Eldon Griffiths MP, parliamentary adviser Act, a simple streamlined measure which to the Police Federation, was given nearly a would enable police officers to disperse full page in the Daily Express to argue that: crowds 'with the threat that if they did not 'The time has come ... to set up specially do so within a short period, they would trained squads ofmen with all the support place themselves in great difficulty' (New of helmets, fireproof uniforms, armoured Standard 20.7.81). The idea of a separate cars yes, and even guns ifnecessary ...' third force was also dismissed by counter­ The police, said Grifiths, should be trained insurgency theorist Major General Richard by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Clutterbuck who canvassed instead the and he identified 'three priorities' for wider use of police video cameras and policing- better protection, anti-riot computer intelligence, a 'substantial' weapons and stronger powers (6.7.81). The Special Patrol Group in every city, greater chairman of the Police Federation, Jim use of Police Support Units between forces Jardine, called for more money to recruit and more standby vehicles (Daily Telegraph more police. Griffiths' demands were to be 10.7.81). conceded with considerable speed. The response to the measures being put The cabinet, meeting on 9 July in forward among other chief constables was emergency session, discussed the need for a not unanimous. The Chief Constable of new Riot Act giving the police the power to West Yorkshire, Ronald Gregory, said that clear the streets and concluded that the he did not want water cannon, and a

State Research Bulletin (vol 4) No 25/August-September 1981/Page 165 deputation of chief constables told the forces in and exceeded their Home Secretary on 15 July of their doubts 'authorised establishment' (the numbers about the use of riot weapons. The they are allowed to recruit). Merseyside. for President of the Association ofChief Police example, had 238 more officers than Officers, George Terry, said after the authorised. and the West Midlands 131. meeting that chief constables were not During the 1970s the number of police I uneasy about deploying the weapons but officers in the 42 forces covered by the fully realised their dangers. They were Report (which excludes the Metropolitan worried, he said, thattraditional methods of Police) increased by over 25%. In 1971, policing would be changed by the while their authorised establishment was introduction of such hardware (Guardian 83,035, the actual number ofofficers was 16.7.81). 74.350; in 1980 the figures were 92,353 and Most outspoken, however, was John 92,310, respectively. Alderson, chief constable of Devon and The same decade also saw a large rise in , Cornwall, who in an interview with the the numberofcivilian staff employed by the SundayTelegraph said that 'There has to be police from 16,417 in 1971 to 21.173 in a better way than blind repression .. . 1980). The 1970s was, in addition, the rioting is not a new phenomenon ... We period when the police service employed must tackle the underlying tensions and technological aids to an ever increasing develop unorthodox, imaginative and extent, ranging fom vast record-keeping r radical solutions ... We are at a critical computers, like the Police National watershed. We must not advance the police Computer at Hendon, to local 'command response too far aheadofthe situation. It is and control' systems to ensure the most even worth a few million pounds of efficient deployment of personnel on the I destruction rather than get pushed too far streets. down that road. That will only bring further Over the same period the Special Branch violence.' (12.7.81). was massively expanded, Special Patrol , r Groups were created as paramilitary units in ! over half the forces in the country, Police A WATERSHED IN BRITISH Support Units were created to provide swift POUCING 'mutual aid' aid to other forces, and riot control became a standard part of police training (see Bulletin no 19). By the summer of each year all the Chief Constables in the have published their reports for the previous •I am entirely confident' year. So too have the Chief Inspector of Mr James Crane, Her Majesty's Chief Constabulary for England and Wales and Inspector of Constabulary. writes in his the Chief Inspector of Constabulary for annual report that despite the St Pauls 'riot' Scotland. In the light of events covered in Bristol in April 1980 and the 'riots' in elsewhere in this Bulletin, this year's reports Brixton in April this year: make bizarre reading. 'Personally I am entirely confident of the It is most illuminating to start with the will of the British Police to foster, and overall picture for England and Wales wherever possible improve, relations presented in the Chief Inspector of with its public of whatever colour, creed Constabulary's Report completed on June or social position, at the same time as 15. fulfilling its duty to preserve order with In 1980 the number of police officers in similar disregard for race and without fear England and Wales reached an all-time high or favour' (dated June 15, published July of 117,423. With few other professions 23. House of Commons Paper 409) expanding and big police pay increases In the 'aftermath of Bristol' the police under the Tories, all but three of the 43 needed, he writes, not only to review its

Page 166/State Research Bulletin (vol 4) No 25/August-September 1981