Race, policing, and public inquiries during the 1980-81 collective violence in England
This thesis examines the collective violence throughout England in 1980-81; these were largely spontaneous incidents of hostility directed against police from predominantly the youth of local black communities. Rejecting characterisations of âmindless criminalityâ, most often endorsed by British authorities to direct attention away from their actions and policies, this thesis argues that such violence was an aspect of broader attempts to increase political participation for black communities within Britain. A recent growth in mobilisation and resistance, fostered by the brief existence of the British Black Power movement, resulted in intensified battles with the police when it appeared that other avenues to protest the perceived harassment and discrimination that they faced had been closed. By rejecting public inquiries into all but the most controversial incidents, the British State continued the marginalisation of racial issues. Utilising newly released records this thesis examines in detail the accusations of misconduct and brutality levelled against the police during the disorders themselves which went unexamined. It argues that such refusal by the government and police to admit culpability, or even
Peplow, Simon George
Race, policing, and public inquiries during the 1980-81 collective violence in England. This thesis examines the collective violence throughout England in 1980-81; these were largely spontaneous incidents of hostility directed against police from predominantly the youth of local black communities. Rejecting characterisations of âmindless criminalityâ, most often endorsed by British authorities to direct attention away from their actions and policies, this thesis argues that such violence was an aspect of broader attempts to increase political participation for black communities within Britain. A recent growth in mobilisation and resistance, fostered by the brief existence of the British Black Power movement, resulted in intensified battles with the police when it appeared that other avenues to protest the perceived harassment and discrimination that they faced had been closed. By rejecting public inquiries into all but the most controversial incidents, the British State continued the marginalisation of racial issues. Utilising newly released records this thesis examines in detail the accusations of misconduct and brutality levelled against the police during the disorders themselves which went unexamined. It argues that such refusal by the government and police to admit culpability, or even
race police public inquiry collective violence england examines collective violence throughout england largely spontaneous incident hostility direct police predominantly youth local black_community rejecting characterisation criminality often british authority direct attention away action policy argue violence aspect broad attempt increase political_participation black_community within britain recent growth mobilisation resistance foster brief existence british black power movement result intensified battle police appear avenue protest perceive discrimination face close reject public inquiry controversial incident british_state continue marginalisation racial issue utilising newly release record examines_detail accusation level police disorder unexamined argues refusal government police admit culpability even