Challenging oppressive policing

Archive theme

Bernie Grant was a prominent advocate against racial injustice in policing during the late 20th century, serving as leader of Haringey Council and later as MP for Tottenham. His work addressed the deep-rooted racial bias affecting Black communities, especially young people, who faced frequent and often oppressive encounters with the police. Grant’s commitment to challenging institutionalised racism coincided with pivotal moments of civil unrest, such as the 1985 Broadwater Farm uprising, which erupted from widespread anger at police violence and discrimination. This theme explores the historical context and consequences of racially biased policing in Britain, focusing on Grant’s role in amplifying the voices of oppressed communities. Visitors can examine key events, community resistance, and the broader network of activists who sought accountability and justice. The archive sheds light on a painful but crucial chapter in British history, illustrating the persistent struggle against systemic racism in law enforcement and the vital leadership of Bernie Grant.

Theme sections

Theme sectionBackground

For the black community in the late 20th century, one of the most pertinent issues in British society was that of racial bias in the criminal justice system. . For young Black…

0 document/media itemsTheme sectionBroadwater Farm 1985 Uprising

On 6th October 1985, the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham was the scene of a major youth rebellion, sparked by young people’s frustration and anger at police violence. As in other civil…

8 document/media itemsTheme sectionBroadwater Farm Inquiry

After repeated calls for an independent inquiry were denied, Grant set up one funded by the Council itself. The Broadwater Farm Inquiry was set up in March 1986, chaired by the then…

2 document/media itemsTheme sectionT he Tottenham Three and the Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign

As a result of the swathe of arrests of local young people in the aftermath of the Uprising, three adults and three minors were charged with the murder of PC Blakelock. The…

2 document/media itemsTheme sectionJoy Gardner and deportations

Joy Gardner (1953 – 1 August 1993) was a Jamaican-born mature student and mother living with her 5-year-old son in Crouch End, North London. Gardner first arrived in the UK in 1986…

1 document/media itemTheme sectionRolan Adams and Stephen Lawrence

In February 1991, Rolan Adams, a 15-year old Black British boy, was murdered in a racist hate crime. At the time of his murder, his local area of Thamesmead, South London, was…

0 document/media itemsTheme sectionRoger Sylvester, Ibrahima Sey and Black deaths in custody

On the 11 th January 1999, Roger Sylvester, a Black Tottenham resident who suffered from bipolar disorder, was detained by police outside his home during a mental health crisis. After being taken…

2 document/media itemsTheme sectionStop and search and racist profiling

From the 1970s onwards, what was commonly referred to as the ‘sus’ law, which was based on Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 , permitted police officers to stop, search and…

3 document/media items