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Police appeal for calm in Bradford

Shyam Bhatia
India Abroad Correspondent in London

The Bradford police chief on Sunday asked local families to stay off the streets in a bid to prevent the recurrence of communal violence that has so far led to injuries to 120 police officials, two civilian stabbings and 36 arrests.

West Yorkshire police have disclosed that out of the 36 arrested, 23 were White and the remaining 13 Asian.

As efforts got under way to restore calm to this industrial city in the north of England, Chief Superintendent Phil Read told rediff.com: "I would make a major appeal for calm, restraint and would urge people to stay indoors. We will have additional resources on duty this evening (Sunday) to deal with any potential outbreaks of disorder."

After eight hours of rioting last Saturday night and early Sunday morning, police had to call in reinforcements from neighbouring counties to boost their forces in Bradford to nearly 1,000 officers.

Earlier, gangs of Asian and White youths fought running battles with officers who were hammered with bricks, bottles, molotov cocktails, fireworks, baseball bats and hammers.

Rioters also torched the local Labour Party Club in the Bradford suburb of Manningham as well as thousands of brand new cars in a BMW garage.

Following the start of the riots Saturday night, British Home Secretary David Blunkett had hinted that police might be given additional powers to deal with such disturbances in the future.

"I am not actually keen myself on upping the ante. I am very keen on the way in which our police force operates as far as possible at the lowest level to maintain order," Blunkett said in a radio interview.

"But I am keen to examine any suggestions that are put forward in circumstances where people believe they can go on the streets, threaten others, including the police, and believe they can get away with it," he added.

EARLIER REPORT:
Fresh race riots in Bradford

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