Remembering the 1981 Riots

Riots erupted in many of the UK inner cities during the summer of 1981. Brixton in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester... and Toxteth, Liverpool.

The year 1981 remains an indelible one in the annals of British history, marked notably by a series of violent city riots that erupted across England. These disturbances, fuelled by a volatile combination of socio-economic grievances, racial tensions, and dissatisfaction with policing, provided a dramatic expression of discontent within sections of urban society.

Britain was undergoing a period of profound transformation. The post-war economic boom had given way to recession, and the Thatcher government’s austerity measures led to widespread job losses and deepened socio-economic inequality. Inner city areas, often characterized by high levels of unemployment and poverty, were particularly impacted.

Brixton – Sparking the Unrest

Against this backdrop, the confrontations began in Brixton, South London, in April. The arrest of a black man under suspicion of stabbing another black man ignited simmering community tensions. Over the course of three days, the area witnessed widespread rioting, looting, and arson, while confrontation between the police and local community escalated. This unrest, later termed the ‘Brixton Riots’, exposed deep-seated issues around racial profiling and discriminatory policing, particularly the controversial ‘stop and search’ policy known as ‘Operation Swamp’.

The Spread of Discontent – Toxteth (Liverpool), Handsworth (Birmingham), Chapeltown (Leeds), Moss Side (Manchester) and St Pauls (Bristol).

The Brixton riots served as a kind of flashpoint, with further disturbances occurring in areas of cities like Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.

The Toxteth riots in Liverpool were among the most significant, lasting nine days in July and leading to extensive property damage and a considerable number of injuries. After a death, 500 arrests and up to one thousand police injured, UK Police used CS Gas on citizens for the first time on the British mainland.

The disturbances in Moss Side, Manchester, and in the Handsworth area of Birmingham further underscored the gravity of the issues.

The riots were largely caused by a combination of social deprivation and distrust of the police and authority.

Most of the riot districts had large ethnic minority communities.

The Scarman Report

The magnitude of these events spurred the government to commission a public inquiry. Lord Scarman, a respected judge, was tasked with investigating the causes of the riots. His report, published later in 1981, acknowledged the role of racial discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage in fuelling the disturbances. He made a number of recommendations around policing, race relations and urban policy, though views on their subsequent implementation and impact vary.