UK: Bradford arrests spark riots
01 May 1995
Hundreds of Asian youths battled with police in full riot gear in the Manningham area of Bradford, west Yorkshire, over the weekend of 9-10 June. The riots were triggered when police arrested 19-year old Shazad Majid and a 16-year old juvenile for playing football in a cul-de-sac on Friday evening. Eye witnesses described how Majid's foot was run over by the patrol car before he and the juvenile were detained and locked in the police vehicle.
At this point angry Asian youths shouted at the police who responded by chasing 16-year old Parvez Iqbal into his house. The youth said that the police kicked his front door in, dragged him outside, and handcuffed him to a gate. When his sister protested they assaulted her, and the baby she was holding, tearing her clothes; their mother was also hit with a truncheon when she attempted to intervene. Local youth explained that the initial incident would have been overlooked, but that the assault on women was unforgivable, but also typical, of the police harassment that they have been complaining about for years.
The arrests sparked a protest outside the local police station which saw another five people arrested, including a local schoolteacher. Inside the police station local councillors claim that they were assured that all those arrested would be released; police officers said that this was not the case as the arrangement had not been cleared. Community leaders later explained that if the police had not broken their promise, the youth would have dispersed. Instead the first night of rioting began and cars were set alight and windows were smashed.
The following night angry Asian youths, frustrated at the total lack of police accountability, took to the streets demanding that the charges against those arrested be dropped and that the two officers involved in the initial arrests be immediately suspended. Several hundred youths gathered outside the police station faced by ranks of police officers in full riot gear. Objects were thrown and windows smashed as police with dogs arrived on the scene and observation helicopters flew overhead. Running battles broke out in side streets as police set up road blocks; cars were torched to create counter blocks to police movements.
In the aftermath of the riots, which are estimated to have caused over ?1 million worth of damage, the police public relations machine moved into operation blaming a generation gap in the Asian community which has led to young Asians being alienated from their parents and community leaders. In fact, young Asians and their elders were united in condemning the police who were accused of failing to listen to advice which would have defused the situation.
Their advice was belatedly taken up, several days after the disturbances, when the two police officers alleged to have assaulted Parvez Iqbal's sister and her baby were ?moved to other duties?; Assistant Chief Constable Lloyd Clarke, who announced the decision, stressed that the redeployment was not a suspension. West Yorkshire Police have also voluntarily referred complaints, alleging assault, abuse of authority and damage to property, to the Police Complaints Authority. This falls far short of the independent inquiry demanded by the local community. Nearly two weeks after events of June 9 and 10 police dropped charges against eight people; proceedings against another four are continuing.
Guardian 12.6.95; Police Complaints Authority press release 14.6.94; Militant 16.6.95.