Broadwater Farm riot
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The Broadwater Farm riot was a riot that occurred in and around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham London on 6 October 1985. Substantial damage was caused and a police officer, PC Keith Blakelock, was killed.
Origins and death of Cynthia Jarrett
On 5 October 1985 a young black man, Floyd Jarrett, was arrested by police having been stopped in a vehicle with a suspicious tax disc. Four police officers subsequently attended his home to conduct a search. In a disturbance between police and family members his mother, Cynthia Jarrett, died of a heart attack.
Her death, seemingly at the hands of police, sparked local outrage against the Metropolitan Police who were the subject of widespread distrust in the local black community. This stemmed from many factors. Only a week before there had been rioting in Brixton when a black woman was accidentally shot by police. Four years earlier the publication of the Scarman Report into an earlier riot in Brixton had criticised police. The local council leader, Bernie Grant issued a statement condemning the police search. The area suffered from high unemployment, high crime and poor housing.
Day of disturbances
The following day saw a demonstration outside Tottenham police station by local people. Outbreaks of violence towards police occurred sporadically during the day and escalated, leading to the deployment of riot police who faced petrol bomb attack and gunfire. Cars were set on fire and barricades made. There was widespread looting with many police officers and local people being injured.
Death of PC Blakelock
At about 9.30 p.m. a fire broke out on the first floor of one of the estate's tower blocks. Firefighters trying to put it out came under attack and a group of police, including PC Blakelock, went to assist them. The rioting in that area was too intense for the group of police, who were not trained riot police, and they and the firefighters withdrew. PC Blakelock tripped, fell, and was surrounded by a mob who attacked him with machetes, knives and other weapons, fatally injuring him.
Aftermath
The rioting tailed off during the night as rain fell and news of the death spread. Police maintained a substantial presence on the estate for several months afterwards. The disturbances led to several changes in police tactics and equipment, and effort was made to re-engage with the community. Council leader Bernie Grant was widely condemned for saying, "What the police got was a bloody good hiding." The local council invested considerable resources into the estate. Today, although there are still issues of contention with the police, the area is considered to have improved markedly.
References
- [Metropolitan Police history of the riot]
- [On this day] - 6 October. BBC News online.
- Graef (1990). Talking Blues: Police in their own words. Fontana Press. ISBN 0006375251
- [MP caught up in drive-by shooting]. (7 April 2005). BBC News online.
- Christian Wolmar. [It's no surprise concrete estates never worked]
- Scott, Stafford (7 December 2003). "[End this Blakelock obsession]". The Guardian
- Scott, Stafford (7 October 2005) "[Sacrifice of a generation]".The Guardian
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