A Social Identity Study of the Greater Manchester Riots 2011
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Robust Policing and Defiant Identities: A Social Identity Study of the Greater Manchester Riots 2011 A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2018 Dermot S. Barr School of Law 2 Abstract This thesis explores the intergroup dynamics during the development of rioting at two sites in Greater Manchester in 2011, Pendleton, in Salford, and Manchester city centre. The primary theoretical contribution of this thesis is to the Elaborated Social Identity Model of the development of conflict (ESIM, Drury & Reicher 2000). Through detailed analysis of how the intergroup dynamics informed the development of the two riots, and participants’ subjective experiences, the thesis confirms and extends the ESIM understandings of the social psychological processes involved in escalating intergroup conflict. In doing so, this thesis also contributes to Waddington et al’s (1989) ‘flashpoints’ model. Through specifying the different processes, this thesis further elucidates ‘flashpoints’ interactional level by detailing the relationship between different intergroup dynamics and the development and character of rioting observed. The thesis also contributes to Baudains et al (2013b) account of the spread of rioting in London by outlining the social psychological processes involved in the escalation of rioting. Furthermore, through analysis of novel police, fire service, social media, and participant interview data, this thesis makes an empirical contribution to the literature on the 2011 riots. Triangulated multi-source accounts of the development of rioting at both sites are produced that contribute to understanding the extent to which secondary riots in 2011 were post- political, consumerist riots, or political, grievance-based riots. Findings confirm and extend the ESIM account of the intergroup dynamics in developing riots. Different policing tactics were observed at the two sites which correlated with different intergroup dynamics and elicited different behavioural outcomes. In line with ESIM’s understanding of undifferentiated 3 police action on crowds, Salford rioters became a unified group in opposition to the police. Through this unity rioters were empowered to expel the police from Salford. Rioters in Manchester city centre did not violently confront the police in the same manner as in Salford. Instead, looting began without the need for an anti-police riot. The more defensive policing in Manchester saw the crowd becoming unified through a different process. Supporting Stott et al (2018), it is argued that a positive feedback loop united and empowered the crowd. The crowd increasingly realised their power as initial riotous actions demonstrated the police’s inability to control the situation. In line with the ESIM, experiential outcomes correlated with the different processes observed at each site (Drury & Reicher 2005). Dis-united Manchester city centre rioters reported limited experiences of empowerment which was further curtailed by the criminal justice response. However, effusive accounts of empowerment were noted in accounts of rioting in Salford. One particular account of empowerment was notable for enduring even after imprisonment. The implications of this thesis’ findings for explanations of secondary rioting in 2011, public order policing, and the ‘spread’ of rioting are discussed. 4 Contents 0. Introduction 9 1. Official reports 16 2. Independent reports 52 3. The social identity approach to understanding collective action 88 4. Methodology 107 5. Contextualising rioting in Greater Manchester 131 6. The development of rioting in Salford 157 6.1. Intergroup dynamics and participant experiences in the Salford riot 2011 176 7. The development of rioting in Manchester city centre 209 7.1. Intergroup dynamics and participant experiences in the Manchester city centre riot 2011 243 8. Discussion 326 9. Conclusion 359 10. Bibliography 365 11. Appendices 391 Word Count 86,244 5 List of figures Figure 1 Map of riot hit areas – Source: Home Office 2011 17 Figure 2 Recorded riot related crimes between 6th–10th August 2011 18 Figure 3 Crimes committed in most affected local authority areas 19 Figure 4 Types of commercial premises targeted in the disorder 21 Figure 5 Types of disorder according to police service area 22 Figure 6 Types of disorder according to lower tier local authority 23 Figure 7 Proportions of defendants of known ethnicity brought before the courts for offences relating to the public disorder between 6th and 9th August 2011, by self-defined ethnicity and region 25 Figure 8 Defendants brought before the courts in Greater Manchester for riot related offences by self-defined ethnicity and local area 26 Figure 9 Criminal histories of all suspects involved in public disorder 6th-9th August 2011 27 Figure 10 Criminal histories of suspects involved in public disorder in Greater Manchester 6th-9th August 2011 28 Figure 11 Number and percentage of arrested participants in Greater Manchester and nationally by age bracket 29 Figure 12 Riot charges according to area level decile in Manchester 30 Figure 13 Average custodial sentence length (months) by court type for riot related offences 32 Figure 14 Participants and their actions 115 Figure 15 Manchester City IMD map 133 Figure 16 Greater Manchester IMD map 134 Figure 17 Salford IMD Map 136 Figure 18 Greater Manchester rioters’ residence map 148 Figure 19 Greater Manchester riot incidents before 16:00 149 Figure 20 Greater Manchester riot incidents 16:00-17:00 150 Figure 21 Greater Manchester riot incidents 17:00-18:00 150 Figure 22 Greater Manchester riot incidents 18:00-19:00 151 Figure 23 Greater Manchester riot incidents 19:00-20:00 151 6 Figure 24 Greater Manchester riot incidents 20:00-21:00 152 Figure 25 Greater Manchester riot incidents 21:00-22:00 153 Figure 26 Greater Manchester riot incidents 22:00-23:00 153 Figure 27 Greater Manchester riot incidents 23:00-00:00 154 Figure 28 Greater Manchester riot incidents 00:00-01:00 154 Figure 29 Frequency of riot incidents in Salford 157 Figure 30 Police recorded incidents in Salford 158 Figure 31 Types of premises attacked in Salford 164 Figure 32 Grouped types of premises attacked in Salford 164 Figure 33 Types of premises attacked in Salford 165 Figure 34 Types of attacks on types of premises in Salford 165 Figure 35 Types of attacks on premises in Salford 166 Figure 36 Incidents the Fire Service responded to in Salford 167 Figure 37 Incidents where the Fire Service was attacked in Salford 168 Figure 38 Frequency of riot incidents in Manchester 209 Figure 39 Police recorded incidents in Manchester 210 Figure 40 Map of Piccadilly Gardens and New Cathedral Street in Manchester city centre 212 Figure 41 Map showing proximity of the two riot sites 214 Figure 42 Grouped types of premises attacked in Manchester 227 Figure 43 Premises attacked in Manchester 228 Figure 44 Types of premises attacked in Manchester 229 Figure 45 Type of attack on types of premises in Manchester 230 Figure 46 Types of attack on premises in Manchester in Manchester 230 Figure 47 Incidents the Fire Service responded to in Manchester 241 Figure 48 Incidents where the Fire Service was attacked in Manchester 242 Figure 49 Types of attacks on premises in Manchester and Salford 328 7 Declaration No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning Copy right statement i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=2442 0), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/about/regulations/) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses 8 Acknowledgments I would like to thank Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester for funding this thesis. I’d particularly like to thank Elisa Bullen and Sarah Henry, and Dr Jon Shute and Professor Judith Aldridge, for facilitating this PhD and helping me through this process. Jonathan Bradley at Greater Manchester Police has been crucial in his help with gathering statistics. I’d like to thank the Community Change Foundation, Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre and the Northern Police Monitoring Project. I’d like to thank Dr James Morgan for making me aware of this opportunity, helping explore my ideas, and proof reading. I’d like to thank my sister, Dr Una Barr for helping me settle into Manchester, supporting me through this PhD, proof reading drafts and putting up with the jams.