NCJ Number
80795
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 6-16,18,59-63
Date Published
1982
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Some reasons for recent British riots against the police are explored, with attention given to police relations with West Indian immigrants.
Abstract
In April 1981, about 1,000 persons, most of them West Indian immigrants, took to the streets of Brixton, a largely poor, working-class district, and burned down 21 buildings, looted 143 stores, and launched a hail of assorted missiles at police, injuring about 320. Within a matter of weeks, other smaller riots occurred in some 25 British cities. An apparent common characteristic of all the riots was the rioter's, bitter hatred of the police. Part of the growing disaffection with the police is related to the pattern of organization. Police ties to the Federal Government insulate them from interaction with local authorities, that local communities have little influence over police policy. Another cause of deteriorating police-community relations is alleged to be police harassment and intimidation of citizens under the Suspected Persons Law, known as the 'Sus Law' which empowers police to arrest a person on the basis of the officer's suspicion that the person is about to commit a crime. West Indian youth, in particular, report abusive treatment by police. Arrest records show that West Indians are arrested under 'Sus' in rates significantly beyond their conviction for actual crimes. Although the police have made efforts to recruit more blacks and other minority races to the police force, few have applied, probably because blacks who would become police fear alienation from other members of their race. Some police chiefs are encouraging foot patrol officers to become more involved with citizens on an informal friendly basis, so that respect for the police may be revived. Citizen input to police policy is also being advocated by many.