Meadow Well riots

The Meadow Well riots were a series of violent protests that took place on 9 September 1991 on the Meadow Well council estate, east of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Origins

The bulk of the Meadow Well Estate was built in the 1930s to accommodate low income residents who were displaced by slum clearances in nearby North Shields. It was originally called The Ridges but in 1968 the local authority changed its name to Meadow Well in an attempt to improve the image of the already dilapidated estate, which was already in decline just 30 years after being built. The estate was considered a no go area for many non-residents and police alike, long before the riots of 1991 occurred.[1]

The riots themselves were triggered by the deaths of two local youths, Dale Robson and Colin Atkins, who were killed fleeing the police at high speed when the stolen car they were joyriding in crashed. The prosecution at the subsequent trial of people accused of being involved in the rioting said the rioters were "gripped by a hatred of the police". Ostensibly in response to such reports of police brutality, locals began looting shops on the estate and setting buildings on fire. These included a youth centre, a health centre, and an electricity sub-station as well as extensive vandalism to numerous buildings and vehicles. Rioters forced Asian-British shopkeepers out of their homes before setting them alight shouting "Let's burn out the Pakis!"[2] Cars and derelict houses were set on fire and a makeshift barrier was erected in the centre of the estate, which was removed by police.[3][2]

Police and fire crews which attended the scene were pelted with bricks. It was estimated that at its height 400 people were involved. At least 50 people were arrested.[2]

Aftermath

The riots were condemned by the Prime Minister, John Major and Home Secretary Kenneth Baker, while the Chief of Northumbria Police, Sir Stanley Bailey said the perpetrators would be caught and charged. Major did not deploy riot police immediately as he wanted the crowd to be contained first. This decision was later criticised for giving the rioters a free hand.[3]

Since the riots, £66 million has been spent on regenerating the estate. Around 750 properties have been demolished and new houses have been built. A new community centre, health centre, and police station have been established.

The Cedarwood Trust has had a positive impact upon the local community, working exclusively on the Meadow Well Estate since its founding in 1980, and having a major role in the re-building of the community. The Cedarwood Trust operates from a small centre in the middle of the Estate, in an area regarded as a local "hot spot" for conflict.

Another community centre is run by a community-led charity, Meadow Well-Connected, which was set up in 1993 to enable and support the residents of the Meadow Well and the surrounding area. They aim to give local people new skills and confidence by offering them training, support and volunteering opportunities.

The Meadow Well riots were one of several waves of rioting which hit parts of Britain during 1991 and 1992. Other areas affected by rioting were Handsworth in Birmingham, Ely in Cardiff, Kates Hill in Dudley and Blackbird Leys in Oxford. These riots were comparable with earlier waves of rioting which had been seen across Britain in 1981 and again in 1985. Rioting on this scale in Britain was not seen again until August 2011.

References

  1. ↑ Evening Chronicle, 15 July 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilkinson, Paul (14 July 1992). "12 accused after riot on estate". The Times. London, England. p. 3. Retrieved 17 February 2018. (Subscription required (help)).
  3. 1 2 Davenport, Peter (11 September 1991). "Police in riot gear move to prevent new disorder". The Times. London, England. p. 1. Retrieved 17 February 2018. (Subscription required (help)).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.