London Associations of Community Relations Councils letter to Home Secretary 24 October 1985

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This letter dated 24 October 1985 from the London Associations of Community Relations Councils to the Home Secretary addresses the recent riots in Brixton and Tottenham. It highlights the deep-rooted social issues such as poor housing, unemployment, and racial discrimination that fuel unrest in inner-city areas. The councils urge the government to act on previous recommendations to tackle these problems and address policing concerns that contributed to the disturbances.

Key points:
– Around 40 representatives from London community relations councils met to review the causes of the Brixton and Tottenham riots.
– The letter emphasizes long-standing issues including inner-city decay, poverty, racial discrimination, and high unemployment as underlying factors.
– It calls for the government to urgently implement Lord Scarman’s and the Commons Home Affairs Committee’s prior recommendations for coordinated action on racial disadvantage and urban problems.
– The letter describes the riots as ignited by community anger following police operations that resulted in the deaths of two black women.
– While condemning criminal acts during the riots, including the murder of a police officer, the letter stresses that community anger was largely genuine and rooted in grievances about policing.

This document situates the unrest within the broader struggle against systemic racism and social inequality affecting Black British communities in the 1980s. It reflects efforts like those associated with Bernie Grant and other activists advocating for anti-racist policies, improved community relations, and accountable policing. The call for implementing Lord Scarman’s recommendations connects to ongoing debates about state responses to racial tensions and urban deprivation in London.

Source note: The OCR transcript contains some typographical irregularities and partial words, but overall the main content and meaning of the letter are clear and reliable for interpretation.