Brixton riot (1995)
Encyclopedia
The Brixton riots of 1995 began on 13 December after the death of 26-year-old Wayne Douglas, in police custody. Douglas had a criminal history of robbery
, assault
, and theft
. Just prior to his arrest he had broken into a the abode of a couple and robbed them at knifepoint just hours earlier. Police quickly tracked the notorious gangster down who when cornered stabbed and hit other officers before being subdued in a melee of clubs by the constables. He continued resisting arrest once taken to the police station before dying of his wounds. This prompted various groups to march on the Brixton Police Station where the death occurred. With several hundred looters and rioters, the attacks resulted in severe damage to property and vehicles in the area. Police sealed off a three kilometre (2 mile) area around Brixton
in south London
.
The riot lasted for five hours. 22 people were arrested and charged with public order offences, theft and criminal damage. Three police officers were injured by stab wounds, small arms fire, and clubs.
The Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Michael Heseltine
, condemned the riots and said "efforts to improve Brixton would continue".
The New York Times reported that local residents were outraged by the death of a black man in police custody and saw the riots as expression of alienation in an impoverished area devastated by race riots in 1981. The New York Times quotes Harold Douglas, 39, as saying:
In an attempt to silence these political provoceteurs, at a news conference at the time Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Condon is quoted to have said:
A local resident at the name stated:
SchNews quoted another unsourced local resident, identified as "Joyce", as saying:
In an attempt to contain the riots around 50 police officers in riot gear formed lines to close Brixton's main road (Brixton Road), preventing anyone from entering the area. Brixton Road had been the scene of rioting in 1981. Police also sealed off a two-mile (3 km) area around the centre of Brixton
and closed Brixton tube station
as well as Stockwell tube station
. A police helicopter was despatched over Brixton.
It was reported that shots were fired as the centre of the demonstration moved into the area of the Ritzy Cinema
.
It was also reported that a crowd of at least ten rioters pulled a police motor cyclist from his machine beating him and leaving him for dead.
Restaurants and homes were particularly targeted by the mob. The Dogstar, Coldharbour Lane
, a recently opened pub, was among the businesses attacked by the rioters. Formerly The Atlantic, a black pub, it had fallen into disrepute and financial problems before being purchased, refurbished, and re-opened as the Dogstar.
The riot later developed into what police called "sporadic pockets of trouble in the area around Brixton town centre". The police stated that "We gave them every opportunity to move off peacefully but they hadn't done so."
One police officer suffered a broken shoulder, fractured ribs and bruising during the riots. He praised the Territorial Support Group
for protecting him from rioters after he was knocked off his motorbike and beaten.
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
, assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
, and theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
. Just prior to his arrest he had broken into a the abode of a couple and robbed them at knifepoint just hours earlier. Police quickly tracked the notorious gangster down who when cornered stabbed and hit other officers before being subdued in a melee of clubs by the constables. He continued resisting arrest once taken to the police station before dying of his wounds. This prompted various groups to march on the Brixton Police Station where the death occurred. With several hundred looters and rioters, the attacks resulted in severe damage to property and vehicles in the area. Police sealed off a three kilometre (2 mile) area around Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The riot lasted for five hours. 22 people were arrested and charged with public order offences, theft and criminal damage. Three police officers were injured by stab wounds, small arms fire, and clubs.
The Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Michael Heseltine
Michael Heseltine
Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...
, condemned the riots and said "efforts to improve Brixton would continue".
Causes
The violence was seen by many as a rebellion against years of "racist injustice" by police in an impoverished area plagued by racial tension.The New York Times reported that local residents were outraged by the death of a black man in police custody and saw the riots as expression of alienation in an impoverished area devastated by race riots in 1981. The New York Times quotes Harold Douglas, 39, as saying:
"Last night happened because the only time a black man is seen and listened to is when he comes out on the street...They cause a million pounds of damage and then people start taking notice."
In an attempt to silence these political provoceteurs, at a news conference at the time Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Condon is quoted to have said:
"It was not Brixton rioting last night. It was a small minority of thugs and criminals who, as ever, were looking for the opportunity to embark on criminal activities."
A local resident at the name stated:
"Local people are not only pissed off with the death of Wayne Douglas but the whole gentrification of Brixton. Council houses and houses occupied by squatSquattingSquatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
ters are being sold off and local pubs like the Atlantic, traditionally run by black people, was opened last week by yuppies as 'The Dog Star'. In anger this was smashed, looted and burnt out. The £33 million City Challenge development including CCTV is only of benefit to big business not local stallholders."
SchNews quoted another unsourced local resident, identified as "Joyce", as saying:
"People were putting up barricades. There were hundreds of people involved, mostly young black and white people and they were local, they weren't outsiders. This was a combination of black people dying in police custody and the way Brixton is at the moment. The place is being yuppified with City Challenge while unemployed centres, adventure playgrounds and libraries are getting shut."
The riots
Although Brixton had a reputation for criminality, the area's black community only started picketing of Brixton Police Station over the death of Mr Douglas. Additionally, the march quickly devolved into violence down Brixton Road (Brixton High Street). Violence between police and rioters was triggered when about 100 demonstrators started shouting "Killers, killers" and "Kill them, Kill them" at the police. Some eye-witness accounts describe the police presence at the demonstration as "incredibly heavy-handed".In an attempt to contain the riots around 50 police officers in riot gear formed lines to close Brixton's main road (Brixton Road), preventing anyone from entering the area. Brixton Road had been the scene of rioting in 1981. Police also sealed off a two-mile (3 km) area around the centre of Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
and closed Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station, a station on the London Underground opened on July 23, 1971, is the southern terminus of the Victoria line.It is located in Brixton Road, and is about 100m from Brixton railway station . From the ticket hall, three escalators take passengers to and from the platforms...
as well as Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
. A police helicopter was despatched over Brixton.
It was reported that shots were fired as the centre of the demonstration moved into the area of the Ritzy Cinema
Ritzy Cinema
The Ritzy is a cinema in Brixton, South London, United Kingdom.The cinema opened on 11 March 1911 as 'the Electric Pavilion'. It was built by E. C. Homer and Lucas for Israel Davis, one of a noted family of cinema developers, and was one of England's earliest purpose built cinemas seating over 750...
.
It was also reported that a crowd of at least ten rioters pulled a police motor cyclist from his machine beating him and leaving him for dead.
Restaurants and homes were particularly targeted by the mob. The Dogstar, Coldharbour Lane
Coldharbour Lane
Coldharbour Lane is a road in South London that leads south-westwards from Camberwell to Brixton. In total the road is over 1 mile long with a mixture of residential, business and retail buildings - the stretch of Coldharbour Lane near Brixton Market contains shops, bars and restaurants...
, a recently opened pub, was among the businesses attacked by the rioters. Formerly The Atlantic, a black pub, it had fallen into disrepute and financial problems before being purchased, refurbished, and re-opened as the Dogstar.
The riot later developed into what police called "sporadic pockets of trouble in the area around Brixton town centre". The police stated that "We gave them every opportunity to move off peacefully but they hadn't done so."
One police officer suffered a broken shoulder, fractured ribs and bruising during the riots. He praised the Territorial Support Group
Territorial Support Group
The Territorial Support Group is a Central Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service consisting of 720 officers, that specialises in public order containment among other specialist policing. The TSG is a uniformed unit of the MPS that replaced the controversial Special Patrol Group...
for protecting him from rioters after he was knocked off his motorbike and beaten.
Death of Wayne Douglas
Wayne Douglas was injured by the police when being brought in for questioning about a burglary. He collapsed in Brixton Police Station from head injuries sustained from the police. The police statement said that Mr Douglas died after collapsing while being questioned. The post-mortem on Mr Douglas revealed that he had died of stress-induced heart failure, while the inquest into his death showed that he had been held face-down with his hands cuffed behind his back four different timesSee also
- BrixtonBrixtonBrixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
- Brixton riot (1981)
- Brixton riot (1985)Brixton riot (1985)The Brixton riot of 1985 started on 28 September in Lambeth in South London.It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years....
- The Guns of BrixtonThe Guns of Brixton"The Guns of Brixton" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London...
- Urban riotsUrban riotsRiots often occur in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. Riots may be the outcome of a sporting event, although many riots have occurred due to poor working or living conditions, government oppression, conflicts between races or religions....
- 2011 London riots