Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign Leaflet

Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign Leaflet


Theme(s): Broadwater Farm

Keystage: KS4

BGA reference: BG/P/2 (1)

This 1989 leaflet is one of many produced by The Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign which was first formed in 1985, formed to address the wider issues of injustice and police-community relations. In that year there were serious disturbances on the Broadwater Farm Estate in North London, during which a policeman lost his life. The Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign was first set up after the mass arrest of 369 people on the estate in the days following the disturbances, to highlight issues of injustice and unfairness in police-community relations. There was particular concern about the imprisonment of a number of people felt to have been innocent, especially three people, popularly known as the Tottenham Three, who were convicted of murdering the policeman.  Bernie Grant supported the Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign and in particular their ultimately successful national appeal to review the convictions of the Tottenham Three.   

This publication from 1989, was printed not long after the fourth anniversary of the disturbance. This publication also came shortly after the Metropolitan Police’s further ‘Operation Kingfisher’ raid on the Broadwater Farm Estate on 29th September 1989. The raid, which involved 400-800 officers, many of whom wore riot gear, took over the area for the whole weekend as part of the newly emerging ‘war on drugs’. The press, were invited to watch as they arrested 24 people for minor drug infringements. As such The Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign dubbed the raid as ‘Operation Kingflop’ as it yielded so little but did so much harm to police-community relations.  The newsletter emphasised that this was yet another example of the ongoing criminalisation of the area, and the communities that lived there. The leaflet gives an update on Winston Silcott who was convicted in 1987  of the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the 1985 riots. With Engin Raghip and Mark Braithwaite, Winston Silcott was one of the “Tottenham Three” who were also convicted for the murder of PC Blakelock. These convictions were all overturned in 1991 after the evidence again them was proven to be unreliable, as a result of an intense campaign. No-one has since been convicted of this murder.

How you could use this resource

The Broadwater Farm disturbances and the aftermath illustrate the tensions in 1980’s Britain which arose from post-war housing policy which concentrated poor and ethnic minority people in “futuristic Utopia” high rise estates. These tensions were compounded by economic pressures and policing policies which disproportionately impacted on Britain’s inner cities which lead to heightened feelings of injustice and indifference by both government and the criminal justice system. The artefacts shows the impact social, housing, immigration and policing policies against a backdrop of inequality, austerity, recession and political ideology, that disproportionately affected poor and/or ethnic communities in England at the time. The disturbances took place in the context of large-scale migration from the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia that began after World War 2, and reflect the challenges Britain faced in becoming a multi-racial society. Hostility towards the new arrivals was accentuated especially as wages and employment opportunities fell victim to wider economic crises of the period, and this is reflected in the way that the British Government and its official agencies dealt with the legacy of Broadwater Farm, as well as by the press and media. the increasing politicization of the police from the 1970s. The Police and the criminal justice system became a key battleground in this context, and the Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign files highlight the methods used by people to express their views about how the Government and the criminal justice system treated those who were marginalised and disrespected in society. The Broadwater Farm Defence files can be used for History KS3, GCSE and A-Level Geography GCSE and A-Level Interpret contemporary history requirements from KS3 – KS5 by focusing on the experience of immigrants to post-war Britain from the 1940s onward and looking at the reasons why people from Africa and the Caribbean moved on mass to Britain during this time, the experiences they have faced living in Britain such as housing, employment and policing and looking at how the progress of equality, diversity, inclusion and racism in Britain has changed over time. Citizenship KS4/GCSE, GCSE/A-Level Sociology, GCSE Media, A-Level Politics and Law A-Level Understand the roles undertaken by people within the legal system to affect change and how this is pivotal to our justice system. How the role of pressure and interest groups, play an important part in providing a voice and support for different groups in society campaigning to bring about a legal change or to fight injustice. Know there are different forms of democratic and citizenship actions people can take to bring about change and hold those in positions of power to account in regard to issues relating to human rights and the justice system. Gain insight into why mutual respect and understanding, and community cohesion are important in a democratic society. Students can also understand the reasons why people migrate from one place to another, especially in and out of the UK over the last 60 years. Lastly, students can understand how people are represented in the media and law.

The Broadwater Farm Defence files can be used for

 

History KS3, GCSE and A-Level
Geography GCSE and A-Level

Interpret contemporary history requirements from KS3 – KS5 by focusing on the experience of immigrants to post-war Britain from the 1940s onward and looking at the reasons why people from Africa and the Caribbean moved on mass to Britain during this time, the experiences they have faced living in Britain such as housing, employment and policing and looking at how the progress of equality, diversity, inclusion and racism in Britain has changed over time.

Citizenship KS4/GCSE, GCSE/A-Level Sociology, GCSE Media, A-Level Politics and Law A-Level

Understand the roles undertaken by people within the legal system to affect change and how this is pivotal to our justice system. How the role of pressure and interest groups, play an important part in providing a voice and support for different groups in society campaigning to bring about a legal change or to fight injustice. Know there are different forms of democratic and citizenship actions people can take to bring about change and hold those in positions of power to account in regard to issues relating to human rights and the justice system. Gain insight into why mutual respect and understanding, and community cohesion are important in a democratic society. Students can also understand the reasons why people migrate from one place to another, especially in and out of the UK over the last 60 years. Lastly, students can understand how people are represented in the media and law.

Linking the artefacts to the present day

  • The ongoing debate as to whether the police are ‘institutionally racist’
  • The policing of inner city areas such as Tottenham and the ongoing tensions through stop and search
  • The current state of race relations in Britain and how events contribute to and/or help diminish racial tensions and the juxtaposition of Britain’s reputation for racial tolerance.
  • The Government’s and official agencies reactions and action to race and equality especially when challenged
  • The changing face of Britain’s housing, it’s housing policy and the way we live
  • The community, political and media reactions to large scale racial incidents such as the Windrush Scandal or Grenfell Tower