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Police chief's warning of a return to '80s-style riots
A chief constable yesterday raised the spectre of widespread 1980s-style riots returning to Britain if recession tightens its grip.
Dr Timothy Brain told MPs that history had shown that a sustained period of unemployment standing at more than three million could lead to 'severe disorder' on the streets.
Treasury forecasts show that unemployment will rise to more than three million over the next two years, while one Bank of England expert is predicting a figure of four million.
That would surpass the record 3.3million on the dole during the recession of the 1980s.
Dr Brain, a spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said there was no need to 'hypothesise' about what may then happen.
Giving evidence to Parliament's home affairs committee, he cited riots in Brixton in South London, Moss Side in Manchester and Toxteth in Liverpool as examples of disturbances fuelled by recession.
Hundreds of police and members of the public were injured.
Dr Brain, who is chief constable of Gloucestershire, warned: 'I do not believe we have seen the impact of the recession yet. We do not need to hypothesise about the long-term effects of unemployment.
'During the second half of the 1970s through to the middle part of the 1980s we saw crime rise sharply. Long-term unemployment hit three million and stayed there for several years.
'In those ten years we saw crime rise by about 124 per cent. The recession of the 1970s and early 1980s saw rising crime and outbreaks of severe public disorder.'
Dr Brain stressed that the conditions which had led to the 1980s riots had not yet been reached.
But the nightmare scenario for senior officers is disturbances breaking out at a time when police resources are being cut. Many forces are believed to be planning to axe officers.
His remarks are the frankest yet by a senior police officer on the threat posed by the recession.
Last night, Sir Ken Jones, president of ACPO, issued his own warning. He said: 'The years ahead are likely to be as difficult as any of us have ever faced.
'Our economy is in severe difficulty, the depths of which are likely to surpass anything witnessed in our lifetimes.'
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1166246/Police-chiefs-warning-return-80s-style-riots.html