Manchester to host meeting to discuss riots
Article published: Monday, March 5th 2012
Local residents are being invited to take part in open debates on the causes of last summer’s riots in Manchester and Salford.
One man gestures to several police officers in August's riots. Photograph: Kriss Massey
Manchester’s debate will take place at the Friends Meeting House on Tuesday 6 March and Salford’s meeting will be held in St. Sebastian’s Community Centre on Wednesday 7 March, as part of the national “Reading the Riots” research project. Both will start from 6.30pm.
The meetings are the result of collaboration between The Guardian, the London School of Economics and Social Action and Research foundation. Organisers aim to build on their research into the issues which led to last August’s riots.
Researchers say the study was launched because unlike the riots of the 1980s no public enquiry was held into the cause of last August’s disturbances, with the government merely laying the blame on “criminality, pure and simple”.
Members of the Manchester panel include Councillor Pat Karney, Lead member for Communities and Manchester City Council city centre spokesperson, and Diane Curry from the charity Partners of Prisoners.
Speaking at the debate in Salford will be leader of Salford City Council Councillor John Merry, Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan of Greater Manchester Police and Graham Cooper from the Broughton Trust, a charity supporting and developing the East Salford Community. Also joining the Salford panel is Helen Clifton, a researcher for Reading the Riots, who will be sharing the findings of their study, which includes interviews with 270 rioters across England.
Researchers argue their findings indicate that despite common factors such as hostility towards police and “dislocation from society” being wide spread reasons for rioting, specific local issues also need to be discussed with the communities affected by the disturbances to ensure any response is suited to address issues in their area.
Organisers say both meetings want to hear local people’s opinions on the causes of the riots, and which issues should be the biggest priorities for local policy and funding.
Sam Cordon
To reserve a place or to find out more information about the events at taking place in
- Manchester – 6 Mount Street, M2 5NS and
- Salford – St Sebastian’s Community Centre, 1 Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ES
please contact Dan Silver, Social Action & Research Foundation on 0161 276 9305 or email danielsilver07@gmail.com
More: Council, Manchester, News, Policing
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