Joblessness and 'toxic relations' with police are blamed for Tottenham riot

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/05/tottenham-citizens-inquiry-toxic-relations-police

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A "citizens inquiry" into the riots in Tottenham will conclude they were partly caused by high youth unemployment and toxic relations with local police, arguing the disorder reveals the need for a major regeneration project in the area.

The north London borough was the first place to suffer riots last summer, when a protest about the police shooting of local man Mark Duggan turned violent. The trouble which started in Tottenham exactly six months ago quickly spread across London and to other English cities.

The report produced by the Citizens Inquiry into the Tottenham Riots, a grassroots coalition of locals, reveals that many in the community believe their area was "left to burn".

The study, which involved interviews with 700 people, will be launched on Tuesday at an event hosted by Reading the Riots, the Guardian and London School of Economics study into the August disturbances.

More than 270 rioters were interviewed in the Reading the Riots study, which found the government had mistaken the role of gangs and social media in the riots. It also found that hostility toward police, particularly over the use of stop and search, was a big factor.

The home secretary, Theresa May, later announced a police review of the use of stop and search and the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, indicated the tactic is to be reformed in the capital.

The Tottenham report was written by a panel of nine commissioners, including four members of the clergy and a headteacher. It paints a picture of a community suffering from a poor reputation and low self-esteem.

It identified poor relations with police and a lack of jobs in the area as important "causes" of the riots. Criminal "opportunism" was also considered significant.

"From the stories we heard, there has been a long-term deterioration of the relationship between people in our community and the police, in particular young people from ethnic minorities," it will say. "Stop and search was frequently described as being excessive and disrespectful."

It adds: "A concerted effort is needed by all parties to rebuild a more positive relationship between community in Tottenham and the police" and says large numbers "feel Tottenham was left to burn".

The report proposes involving the community in the training of new police recruits in the Haringey borough and calls on the Met to "increase diversity" among its officers.

The Tottenham inquiry is one of scores of small-scale research inquiries taking place across England, as communities affected by the riots examine the violence and looting that blighted parts of Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

In Southwark, research by Harriet Harman MP found provision of youth services was crucial for preventing a return of the riots. Her inquiry called for more jobs and apprenticeships, sufficient police numbers and a new drive to improve relations with police.

A Hackney council-sponsored inquiry involving a poll of 2,000 residents unearthed complaints of a growing divide between rich and poor in the borough, concern over affordable housing and – as elsewhere – found desire for improved relations with police. Other post-riot initiatives are still underway in Ealing, Enfield, Croydon and Birmingham.

The independent communities and victims panel, which was set up by the three main political parties and has also taken evidence from riot-affected areas, will report back in March.

In Tottenham, much of the physical damage done by the fires is in the process of repair. A post office and job centre have been relocated, while moves are afoot to rebuild fire-hit Aldi and Carpetright stores. Haringey council has given £1.5m in grants and support to local businesses and is promising to invest £41m in a regeneration plan.

The Tottenham commissioners plan to call for money to be targeted at the creation of 1,000 new jobs for those aged 16-24 before 2014. "When we listened to young people who chose not to riot, their most important reason was that they had a stake in the community: family and community ties, education and job opportunities," the report states.

At the time of the riots there were 10,000 unemployed in the borough but just 367 job vacancies.

The commission also wants money to train 100 local "leaders" to oversee a transformation of the area.

The proposals are supported by Tottenham's MP, David Lammy. He said unemployment had risen in the area since August – one ward that suffered rioting now has the highest unemployment rate in the capital.

"We need a passport office or a students loan company here in Tottenham – a major public sector employer that will do something about the acutely worrying levels of unemployment," he said. Lammy also said he believed that there had been an increase since the riots in the police's use of the Section 60 power to stop and search.

Additional research by Yemisi Adegoke

Reading the riots – community conversations

Tottenham Tuesday 7 February. In partnership with North London Citizens. Bruce Grove Youth Centre, 10am-11.30am

Peckham Tuesday 21 February. In partnership with the Damilola Taylor Trust. Damilola Taylor Centre, 6pm-8pm

Croydon Thursday 23 February. In partnership with Croydon Voluntary Action. CVA Resource Centre, 6pm-8pm

Birmingham Tuesday 28 February. In partnership with the Haven Community Project. The Drum, 6pm-8pm

Liverpool Thursday 1 March. In partnership with the Unity Community Project. The Unity, Toxteth, 6pm-8pm

Manchester Tuesday 6 March. In partnership with Manchester's Social Action and Research Foundation. Friends Meeting House, 6pm-8pm

Salford Thursday 8 March. In partnership with the Social Action and Research Foundation. 2 Pendleton Gateway, 6pm-8pm

For information contact symeon.brown.casual@guardian.co.uk Sponsored by the Open Society Foundations