St Pauls riot

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The St Pauls riot occurred in St Pauls, Bristol, England.

On April 2, 1980 the police carried out a raid on the Black and White Café located on Grosvenor Road in the heart of St Pauls. It is unclear why the riot started either due to the police ripping a customer's trousers and refusing to pay [1] or they were simply attacked as they removed alcohol from the café. The riot continued for many hours and caused large amounts of damage including a Lloyds Bank and post office. Several fire engines and twelve police cars were damaged along with the shops. One-hundred-and-thirty people were arrested and ninety were charged. The next day the Daily Telegraph headlined with, "19 Police Hurt in Black Riot" and blamed lack of parental care. [2] Nineteen policemen and six other people were taken to hospital, including a cameraman and the photographer from the Western Daily Press; nobody died due to the riots. It is now thought that poverty and the Sus laws were more important causes of the riots than race.[3] The Black & White Café had a notorious reputation as a drug den and was raided more times by the police than any other premises in the country. [4] The council used its powers of compulsory purchase and the building has now been demolished and replaced by new homes. [5] [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ St. Paul's Riot: 1980. Bristol Riots. Retrieved on 2006-06-01. Beware: (Site has Pop-up ads)
  2. ^ 25 years since the St Pauls riots. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
  3. ^ John Rex. St. Paul's, Bristol 1980 and the LA Riots. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  4. ^ Britain's most dangerous hard drug den. The Observer (9 February 2003). Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
  5. ^ Riot cafe to be demolished. BBC News (13 August 2003). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
  6. ^ Homes replace former 'drugs' cafe. BBC News (16 January 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.

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[edit] External links


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