The Brixton riot of April 11, 1981 was one of the most serious riots in London, UK, of the 20th century.
Brixton in south London was, and still is, an area of deep social and economic problems — high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, no amenities — in a predominantly black community[1]. The police were strongly disliked and seen as largely reactionary and distant. An attempt at proactive crime control did much to increase tensions. The Metropolitan Police began Operation Swamp 81 at the beginning of April, aimed at reducing street crime, mainly through the heavy use of the so-called sus law, which allowed police to stop and search individuals on the basis of a mere 'suspicion' of wrong-doing. Plain clothes police officers were dispatched into Brixton, and in five days almost 1,000 people were stoped and searched. The local community was not consulted about the operation and tensions on the street of Brixton reached breaking point.[2]
On the evening of the 10th, at around 17:15, a black youth who had been stabbed in an attack was being helped by a police patrol. As he was being helped a large hostile crowd gathered as they tried to take him to a waiting car on Railton Road the crowd intervened. The police were attacked and the struggle only ended when more police officers arrived; the youth was taken to a hospital.
Through the night of the 10th and on Saturday 11th the police brought a very strong force into the area. Tensions built throughout the day as crowds slowly gathered. In early evening, as the police attempted to make some arrests on Atlantic Road, the tension broke: a few bricks were thrown and windows smashed. More police closed in and more missiles began to be thrown. The police retreated, leaving their vehicles to be burned. Other vehicles were burned and shops looted on Railton Road, Mayall Road, Leeson Road and Brixton Road before the police, notably the Special Patrol Group, returned.
The police sealed the Atlantic-Railton-Mayall area, although a number of other streets had groups of looters. Following agreed tactics the police formed deep shield walls and moved to reclaim the area. The rioters responded with bricks, bottles, and petrol bombs — the first British use of these incendiary devices outside of Northern Ireland. Cars and buildings were set alight and fire engines attacked as they tried to deal with the flames.
The destructive efforts of the rioters peaked at around 20:00, with two public houses, schools and other structures burning. Two hours later the police had the area under some control, although the fire brigade refused to return until the following morning. By 1:00 on April 12, 1981, the area was largely subdued, with no large groups — except the police — on the streets. Attempts to reignite violence on the 12th failed quickly, with more than 1,000 officers on the streets.
The riot resulted in almost 300 police injuries and 65 serious civilian injuries; over a hundred vehicles were burned, including 56 police vehicles; almost 150 buildings were damaged, with thirty burned. There were 82 arrests. Reports suggested that up to 5,000 people were involved in the riot.[3]
It has been suggested in some quarters that one of The Clash's most famous songs, "White Riot", was written about Joe Strummer and his friends being caught amongst the riot and interrogated by the police. However, as "White Riot" first appeared in 1977, this is not correct. The song actually refers to Joe (and Paul Simonon) getting caught up in some rioting at the Notting Hill Carnival. "The Guns of Brixton", another Clash song with a similar theme, also predates the 1981 riot.
Between 3 and 11 July of that year, there was more unrest fueled by racial and social discord, in Handsworth, Southall, Toxteth, and Moss Side. There were also smaller pockets of unrest in Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, Halifax, Bedford, Gloucester, Coventry, Bristol, and Edinburgh.
There was a public inquiry into the riot headed by Lord Scarman. The Scarman report was published by Susana De Freitas November 25, 1981.