Institute of Race Relations newspaper cuttings

Topics include:

- Several reports focus on the connections between policing and race relations, including initiatives to build better community relationships, various accusations of police brutality and protests against the police in ethnic communities. One such protest is well documented and concerns a fire at a party attended by local West Indians in South London (Depford) in which 13 died and 27 were injured. There was a protest march as it was felt that the police were covering up evidence which would suggest it was a racially motivated attack.

- There are several reports covering cases of racist violence, intimidation and graffiti. Many of these attacks are perpetrated by ‘skinhead’ gangs and various connections are made with the unemployed, white working classes, citing council estates and football stadiums as areas where this racist culture is most prevalent.

- Many reports discuss issues relating to multi-cultural education, both in terms of problems and solutions.

- There are several reports discussing the Conservative Government’s Nationality Bill, which is widely opposed by opposition MPs, race relations groups and the Church.

- Several reports focus on the National Front, primarily their persistent marches through various cities and towns across the country. Under pressure from the police and various anti-racism groups, the Home Secretary begins to ban some of the marches.

- There is also general coverage of the National Front and other neo-Nazi groups.

- There are several reports on discrimination, mostly in employment and housing.

- There are several reports covering the work of Community Relations Councils as well as internal issue of funding and staff disputes.

- There is some coverage of the trial of the St. Paul’s Riot in Bristol with details of specific defendants and some verdicts.