Deja Vu?

Having lived within three miles of the rioter's playground for some 27 years, this latest outbreak may have been an opportunity seized upon by young hooded opportunists, but let us not forget that the local community in Tottenham do not seem to take too well to black people being shot or dying mysteriously at the hands of the Metropolitan police.

The infamous Broadwater farm riots, which took place on the 6th October 1985, were triggered by the death of Mrs. Cynthia Jarrett on the previous day. Her son, Floyd Jarrett, had been arrested for giving false details and allegedly being in possession of a counterfeit tax disc. Whilst in custody, four police officers arrived at his mother’s home to conduct a search, which resulted in Mrs. Jarrett fatal collapse. Some 26 years later it has never been established whether Mrs. Jarret died of a heart attack or some nefarious police action. Incidentally, PC Blakelock, was also murdered in the ensuing Broadwatwer farm riot.

This weekend’s events in Tottenham Hale begun to unravel after the shooting of a local black man. Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four was killed after an alleged fatal exchange of gun fire with the police.