Midlands, is angry at the suggestion that the police roads, and water mains, are to blame in any way for the events on Lozells have been carried out by Road last week. 'Some people have got to face up to white contractors employthe fact that there is a substantial element of blame ing white labour. to be attached to some young people who get a High social deprivation, distinct kick out of causing pain, and suffering, and racial oppression, are what hurt to others in society. There are some social com- make Handsworth exmentators who far too quickly seek to excuse what is plosive — not its alleged sheer criminality, sheer hooliganism, and destruc- 'volatile racial mix' In the '70s these condifive anti-social behaviour. The rioters of Handsworth were utterly blameworthy. tions were aggravated by systematic police harassNot surprisingly Dear In reality of course men or olack yout wno 1s Drepared to take the there was every justifica- were all viewed as potennecessary measures. Ques- tion. Black youth are the tal criminals, an image or tioned about plastic bullets most oppressed section of the area reinforced by a Dear said he 'wouldn't society. Not only do they racist press. shrink' from using them, face higher unemployment Relations between the although he was *reluc- social deprivation police and the black com tant' to issue tear gas to his that faced by all munity went from bad to working class youth, but worse. This led to a change His response was to be ЕлеУ also face racist op- tactics in 1978 The expected. More alarming pression and discrimina- Lozells Police Project was the way Labour politi- ton as black people. launched in that year incians echoed Jeff It is this which explains troduced 'community Rooker MP called it 'a the disDronortionate v policing to the area for attack high levels of unemploy- the first time. Its' stated criminality' before he even ment in areas like Hand- encourage visica ine area sworth even people living in the area to Labour councillor Sar- these communities black dul Marwa, youth come off worst. agencies in solving the pro. WIll chair of the city's race rela- Of 1434 school leavers blems of the communitv. tions committee. described in Handsworth this year In reality the project the deaths as 'cold blood- only 99 found jobs. Only sought to bring voluntary ed murder' and demanded eight were Afro- bodies in the area under that somebody be charg- Caribbean. the influence of the police, ed. Roy Hattersley claim- The much lauded ur- through their control of its ed there was 'no justifica- ban aid spent on the area £50,000 a year grant. tion' for what done nothing to Through community cured. change these basic facts. projects the police sought to change black youth's view of the police while expanding their own knowledge of what going on in the communiWebb, Superintendent who headed the project, became a regular figure at parents evenings inthe projects, 'community Clal exchange incura IGalle black continued.
- 1981.
other cities Sixty were inmade. these figures the were considered tame compared policing society by case that never was, be, any SOIL.
understood told the other this meant network plete was within the defenders community.
ferent to shops.
also.
tor which multi-racial 'community the PerWebb this. As he 'There but what we community been Living Handsworth That's not the Having CUll deaths the Asian hositility of the Indian this a reaction of community residents campaign tatives of Caribbean tivists did reported finger Caribbeans. Raids More gain the Villa situation police, made Caribbeans heroin.
As the leader the law Hallus statement munity on they state residents this brought the large the meeting, LIONS inevitable policing comes the iron fist of state repression. The events on white associations.
•drug the Afrocommunity. black acattend speeches pointed Afroraids haunt Cross pub. now being denies to the Afrothe inSoho Star residents their own in a by the comSeptember, white meeting bingo that first service of . Given ot the allegawould conclude they were The responsiblity for this lies with those who organised the meeting and fuelled its racist accusa tions.
of the Lozells place the the where, to jived with the event as a them a them to 'community policing' murder underway turned.
including burglary, _possession of offensive When Meanwhile it additional Police has nearby Road disclose the names of treatment the revolt.
Social reportedly Talled to sign on their usual times.
quired.
policing has fighting sup port Call Heath.
Handsworth, phone 021-554 2747.
needed