Haringey Community Council: Tottenham Disorders

About this item

This document is a resolution from the Haringey Community Relations Council dated October 17, 1985, addressing the Tottenham disorders following the death of Mrs Cynthia Jarrett. It calls for a comprehensive public inquiry into the events and causes, particularly focusing on policing and local authority roles in Broadwater Farm and Tottenham. The resolution seeks coordinated action among police, local government, and community organizations to identify and address the root causes of unrest.

Key points:
– The Council demands a full public inquiry into Mrs Cynthia Jarrett’s death and related disturbances on Broadwater Farm.
– The inquiry’s scope should include policing practices, local authority responsibilities, and wider agency roles in Tottenham.
– The Council calls for an early local authority-led survey to objectively assess problems affecting Broadwater Farm tenants.
– A joint meeting between police, local authority, and the Council is requested to discuss policing issues.
– Representations are to be made to Central Government reflecting community concerns.

This resolution emerges from a period of heightened racial tension and conflict over policing in Black British communities during the 1980s, particularly in Tottenham where Bernie Grant was a prominent political figure. It reflects broader demands for accountability in policing and local governance, key themes in Black British political activism and anti-racist campaigning linked to Grant’s work in local government and community advocacy.

Source note: The OCR transcript is legible with minor spacing inconsistencies but provides a reliable basis for interpretation.