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Margaret Thatcher's criticism of Brixton riot response revealed | Margaret Thatcher's criticism of Brixton riot response revealed |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's concerns about official responses to the 1981 Brixton riots have been made public for the first time. | Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's concerns about official responses to the 1981 Brixton riots have been made public for the first time. |
Lord Scarman led a five-month inquiry into the unrest in south London. | Lord Scarman led a five-month inquiry into the unrest in south London. |
The files, released by the National Archives, cover the period after the Scarman Report's publication in 1981. | The files, released by the National Archives, cover the period after the Scarman Report's publication in 1981. |
A handwritten note by Mrs Thatcher on a summary of the report reads: "I'm afraid the report seems highly critical of the police." | A handwritten note by Mrs Thatcher on a summary of the report reads: "I'm afraid the report seems highly critical of the police." |
The home secretary at the time, Willie Whitelaw, presented it to the Commons in a statement on 25 November 1981. | The home secretary at the time, Willie Whitelaw, presented it to the Commons in a statement on 25 November 1981. |
At the time it was positively received by a cross-section of MPs from different parties. | At the time it was positively received by a cross-section of MPs from different parties. |
The rioting which erupted in Brixton, in the south London borough of Lambeth, shocked the nation. | The rioting which erupted in Brixton, in the south London borough of Lambeth, shocked the nation. |
For three days, rioters - predominantly young, black men - fought police, attacked buildings and set fire to vehicles. | |
Tensions in the area had been heightened early that April by Operation Swamp - an attempt to cut street crime in Brixton which used the controversial "Sus law" to stop and search more than 1,000 people in six days. | Tensions in the area had been heightened early that April by Operation Swamp - an attempt to cut street crime in Brixton which used the controversial "Sus law" to stop and search more than 1,000 people in six days. |
More than 300 people were injured in the riots and the damage caused came to an estimated value of £7.5m. | More than 300 people were injured in the riots and the damage caused came to an estimated value of £7.5m. |
The public was shocked by the unexpectedness of events, because it seemed to many at the time that black people were well integrated into the fabric of UK society. | |
Mr Whitelaw described Lord Scarman's recommendations as "a statement of philosophy and direction for the future", adding: "I accept and endorse this statement of philosophy." | Mr Whitelaw described Lord Scarman's recommendations as "a statement of philosophy and direction for the future", adding: "I accept and endorse this statement of philosophy." |
Mr Whitelaw paid particular attention to - in his words - "the need to develop formal arrangements in every police force area for consultation between police and community". | Mr Whitelaw paid particular attention to - in his words - "the need to develop formal arrangements in every police force area for consultation between police and community". |
'Very worried' | 'Very worried' |
Less than a year later, in June 1982, Lady Thatcher received a briefing telling her of the home secretary's intention to introduce a statutory duty on police to consult the community. | Less than a year later, in June 1982, Lady Thatcher received a briefing telling her of the home secretary's intention to introduce a statutory duty on police to consult the community. |
This would have the advantage, the Home Office note said, of "increasing the flow of information between the Police and the community which Scarman felt to be essential". | This would have the advantage, the Home Office note said, of "increasing the flow of information between the Police and the community which Scarman felt to be essential". |
Lady Thatcher wrote in response: "I confess to being very worried about this. | Lady Thatcher wrote in response: "I confess to being very worried about this. |
"It will soon be said that the police cannot prosecute or search without consultation. I cannot see what they are going to be compelled to consult about." | "It will soon be said that the police cannot prosecute or search without consultation. I cannot see what they are going to be compelled to consult about." |
Her government later made arrangements for community consultation as part of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, after Willie Whitelaw had been replaced as home secretary. | Her government later made arrangements for community consultation as part of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, after Willie Whitelaw had been replaced as home secretary. |
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