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Harehills problems 'glossed over' a year on from disorder Harehills problems 'glossed over' a year on from disorder
(about 4 hours later)
A bus was set alight and a police car flipped during the violence in Harehills last yearA bus was set alight and a police car flipped during the violence in Harehills last year
A year after disorder in a Leeds suburb saw a double-decker bus torched and a police car flipped, a councillor who helped quell the unrest has called for "real structural change" to prevent a repeat.A year after disorder in a Leeds suburb saw a double-decker bus torched and a police car flipped, a councillor who helped quell the unrest has called for "real structural change" to prevent a repeat.
Chaos erupted in Harehills on 18 July 2024 after police assisted social workers taking four children into emergency foster care.Chaos erupted in Harehills on 18 July 2024 after police assisted social workers taking four children into emergency foster care.
After people reacted angrily to the children being taken away, a police car was flipped over before hundreds took to the streets - forcing officers to retreat.After people reacted angrily to the children being taken away, a police car was flipped over before hundreds took to the streets - forcing officers to retreat.
Gipton and Harehills councillor Mothin Ali said "structural problems" led to the violent disorder.Gipton and Harehills councillor Mothin Ali said "structural problems" led to the violent disorder.
"We are in communities that are deprived, that are struggling with poverty, that are struggling with lack of opportunities", he told the BBC."We are in communities that are deprived, that are struggling with poverty, that are struggling with lack of opportunities", he told the BBC.
"We need to get to the bottom of it; there are communities coming in new to England, Harehills has always been a stepping stone, but they are not being given the support to integrate into society."We need to get to the bottom of it; there are communities coming in new to England, Harehills has always been a stepping stone, but they are not being given the support to integrate into society.
"If we are not integrating people who are struggling or marginalised into society then we are not giving people adequate opportunities."If we are not integrating people who are struggling or marginalised into society then we are not giving people adequate opportunities.
"There is going to be reoccurrence of these problems"."There is going to be reoccurrence of these problems".
Councillor Mothin Ali ran from his home to Harehills Lane after messages warned of crowds gathering on the street last yearCouncillor Mothin Ali ran from his home to Harehills Lane after messages warned of crowds gathering on the street last year
On Foundry Approach, where the bus was torched just feet away from shops and tightly packed terraced homes, physical scars of the disorder remain.On Foundry Approach, where the bus was torched just feet away from shops and tightly packed terraced homes, physical scars of the disorder remain.
The fire-damaged pavement and road is yet to be re-tarmacked, while Miller Owolo Kadiri is still waiting for the signage above his off-licence to be replaced.The fire-damaged pavement and road is yet to be re-tarmacked, while Miller Owolo Kadiri is still waiting for the signage above his off-licence to be replaced.
Ali said he had been trying to source money "to hide the scars of what happened", but had so far been unsuccessful.Ali said he had been trying to source money "to hide the scars of what happened", but had so far been unsuccessful.
Mr Kadiri said "by the grace of God" the flames did not spread inside his business of 13 years, but the damage left other scars for the 54-year-old who told of his "shock and depression" about what happened in the immediate aftermath.Mr Kadiri said "by the grace of God" the flames did not spread inside his business of 13 years, but the damage left other scars for the 54-year-old who told of his "shock and depression" about what happened in the immediate aftermath.
"I was really traumatised for two months before I could get myself back," he said."I was really traumatised for two months before I could get myself back," he said.
Mr Kadiri's shop was damaged by fire when the bus was set alightMr Kadiri's shop was damaged by fire when the bus was set alight
Twelve months on, the BBC also revisited Saad Siddique, who owns a phone repair shop on Harehills Lane.Twelve months on, the BBC also revisited Saad Siddique, who owns a phone repair shop on Harehills Lane.
The 33-year-old, who still lives locally with his family, said he too was regularly reminded of what happened.The 33-year-old, who still lives locally with his family, said he too was regularly reminded of what happened.
The bins set alight outside his shop had yet to be replaced, he said.The bins set alight outside his shop had yet to be replaced, he said.
"Since that point I have to deliver mostly, people don't come into my shop anymore. They are scared."Since that point I have to deliver mostly, people don't come into my shop anymore. They are scared.
"I want my Harehills back in a normal position it used to be two years ago.""I want my Harehills back in a normal position it used to be two years ago."
Another shop owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said business was getting "harder and harder because of the reputation".Another shop owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said business was getting "harder and harder because of the reputation".
John White, who runs a domestic appliance repairs business further down the high street, previously criticised a lack of community cohesion in the area, thought to be one of the most diverse in Leeds.John White, who runs a domestic appliance repairs business further down the high street, previously criticised a lack of community cohesion in the area, thought to be one of the most diverse in Leeds.
A year on, he said little had changed.A year on, he said little had changed.
"This could be a really good place if everybody got on together," said the 61-year-old."This could be a really good place if everybody got on together," said the 61-year-old.
Miller Owolo Kadiri, Saad Siddique and John White all run businesses in HarehillsMiller Owolo Kadiri, Saad Siddique and John White all run businesses in Harehills
Daniel Balaz, a community director of Connecting Roma, an organisation which supports Yorkshire's Roma community, has organised an evening of "dialogue, healing and collective repair".Daniel Balaz, a community director of Connecting Roma, an organisation which supports Yorkshire's Roma community, has organised an evening of "dialogue, healing and collective repair".
"It is confusion that we are dealing with here", he said."It is confusion that we are dealing with here", he said.
"I think very much the key is bringing the right information, sharing the code of conduct of police, social services, processes, legislations, rights and laws that professionals are using to be able to enter homes and engage families."I think very much the key is bringing the right information, sharing the code of conduct of police, social services, processes, legislations, rights and laws that professionals are using to be able to enter homes and engage families.
"We do not agree with rioting or displaying violence, what we want is really to empower the community and make them feel safe."We do not agree with rioting or displaying violence, what we want is really to empower the community and make them feel safe.
"We want to find out what the community actually feels a year on, we can start building these relationships and building bridges.""We want to find out what the community actually feels a year on, we can start building these relationships and building bridges."
Daniel Balaz believes community engagement is key to preventing violence in the futureDaniel Balaz believes community engagement is key to preventing violence in the future
West Yorkshire Police said 23 people had now been convicted and sentenced to more than 39 years in prison in total for their roles in the disorder.West Yorkshire Police said 23 people had now been convicted and sentenced to more than 39 years in prison in total for their roles in the disorder.
More cases were currently in the court system, a force spokesperson added, while "substantial work" had been carried out "to help communities recover".More cases were currently in the court system, a force spokesperson added, while "substantial work" had been carried out "to help communities recover".
Last August, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said she would ask West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins to share his "reflections and learning" about the disorder.Last August, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said she would ask West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins to share his "reflections and learning" about the disorder.
Ali believes the discussions should be more open.Ali believes the discussions should be more open.
"They did an investigation and it felt like it was behind closed doors," he said."They did an investigation and it felt like it was behind closed doors," he said.
"I think we are just glossing over problems.""I think we are just glossing over problems."
West Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe, said "thousands" of pounds had been given to local projects to support community cohesion through the mayor's Safer Communities Fund. West Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe, said that since the disorder she had sought to "actively listen and engage" with the community in order to shape the response.
She said: "Clearly, a longer-term approach is still required to put in place the lessons learned." She said several meetings had been held and "thousands" of pounds had been given to local projects to support community cohesion through the mayor's Safer Communities Fund.
She added: "Clearly, a longer-term approach is still required to put in place the lessons learned alongside our wider partnership network, and we would be happy to meet the councillor anytime to progress this."
Listen: What's next for Harehills?Listen: What's next for Harehills?
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.