Meadow Well Riots
Encyclopedia
The Meadow Well Riots were a series of violent protests
that took place on 9 September 1991 on the Meadow Well council estate, east of Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
.
The estate was built in the 1930s to accommodate low income residents from nearby North Shields
. It was originally called The Ridges but in 1968 the local authority changed its name to Meadow Well in an attempt to improve the image of the already dilapidated estate. The estate was considered a no go area for many non-residents and police alike before the riots occurred.
The riots themselves were triggered by the deaths of local youths, Dale Robson and Colin Atkins, who were killed whilst driving a stolen car which was pursued by the police. Friends of the pair asserted on local news broadcasts that their deaths were caused by the police forcing their vehicle from the road. Ostensibly in response to such reports of police brutality, locals began looting
shops on the estate and setting buildings on fire. These included a youth centre, a fish and chip shop, and an electricity sub-station. Police and fire crews which attended the scene were pelted with bricks. It was estimated that at its height 400 people were involved. 37 people were arrested, including one who was jailed for four and a half years.
Since the riots, £66 million has been spent on regenerating the estate. Around 750 properties have been demolished and new houses have been built. A new community centre, health centre, and police station have been established.
The community centre is run by a community-led charity, Meadow Well-Connected, which was set up in 1993 to enable and support the residents of the Meadow Well and the surrounding area. They aim to give local people new skills and confidence by offering them training, support and volunteering opportunities.
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
that took place on 9 September 1991 on the Meadow Well council estate, east of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The estate was built in the 1930s to accommodate low income residents from nearby North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
. It was originally called The Ridges but in 1968 the local authority changed its name to Meadow Well in an attempt to improve the image of the already dilapidated estate. The estate was considered a no go area for many non-residents and police alike before the riots occurred.
The riots themselves were triggered by the deaths of local youths, Dale Robson and Colin Atkins, who were killed whilst driving a stolen car which was pursued by the police. Friends of the pair asserted on local news broadcasts that their deaths were caused by the police forcing their vehicle from the road. Ostensibly in response to such reports of police brutality, locals began looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
shops on the estate and setting buildings on fire. These included a youth centre, a fish and chip shop, and an electricity sub-station. Police and fire crews which attended the scene were pelted with bricks. It was estimated that at its height 400 people were involved. 37 people were arrested, including one who was jailed for four and a half years.
Since the riots, £66 million has been spent on regenerating the estate. Around 750 properties have been demolished and new houses have been built. A new community centre, health centre, and police station have been established.
The community centre is run by a community-led charity, Meadow Well-Connected, which was set up in 1993 to enable and support the residents of the Meadow Well and the surrounding area. They aim to give local people new skills and confidence by offering them training, support and volunteering opportunities.
External links
- BBC archive report
- http://www.meadowwellconnected.org.uk