Why are majority of the riots in northern towns?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

DH & I were watching the riots on the news this morning like most people absolutely horrified.

He's from one of the northern towns affected although we live in the south and started discussing why these riots now (and historically) tend to be more focused on northern towns but didn't really come up with any one thing. Any thoughts on this?

There are protocol about when they are allowed to do that.

Honestly, they don't need a reason to be the way they are. Let's not give it credence.

And the ones who went to the "protests" just to protest and not riot. They should have known it was never going to stay peaceful.

I don’t know what the solution is as there is wrongs on both sides, but the media’s rhetoric of “thugs”, “racists”, “far right” of people who would class them selves as “ordinary” is not helping and only stoking the flames

The majority of nazis would have described themselves as 'ordinary' It doesn't matter how they see themselves. Civilised society sees them as thugs and racists. How else is somebody meant to view a person who behaves in such a way?

Excellent post - problems have been brushed under the carpet for too long. It can only get worse.

IF I was a disenfranchised young white man who felt ignored and genuinely concerned at the lack of immigration control here I might protest but I would certainly not join the likes of the neo Nazi thugs burning and looting at the moment. In fact if a legitimate protest I had joined turned into a riot led by swastika tatooed idiots who were throwing things at The Police I think I would get out of there sharpish instead of nicking something from a Phone shop.

I used to go on student demos which often turned violent in the 1980s. Friends of mine were violently assaulted by the police and by Nazis when we went on pride and stop the clause marches. Being gay was no picnic back in the day.
We had the anti Nazi league as well and direct action. Nazis are not new, there is no economic or social reason for people supporting Nazis. As the old graffiti at Elephant and Castle said " Nazis have no answers". It was true then and it's true now.
It seems to me that when people are deparate they turn to extreme ideas, whether or not those ideas can gain a foothold in actual politics depends on lots of factors. Economic prosperity is usually an antidote. I remain optimistic that these Nazis are a tiny minority of the population and their riots like the 2011 ones will end in prison for many of them.

I would imagine the protocol was pretty similar here. Both groups attacking police and both groups doing criminal damage to vehicles and buildings. As someone pointed out the riots at Harehills lasted more than one night, couldn’t the police get the appropriate support? Protocol or not, surely support would be the bare minimum expected.

It depends where you live. The Muslim Pakistani community in my northern home town are very well integrated. They run homework clubs, cubs etc for all faiths at the mosque. They provide free food for the community so anyone can walk in and get a hot meal. They do fun days, and invite everyone. They have strong links to the local football club. They’re just part of the town, and when the racists have threatened them this week, it’s local people of all races that turn out to protect the mosque.

@taxguru I stand corrected then -last time I went it was quite smart - I give you Burnham on sea and Weston super mare- - equally awful

Poverty, disassociated, poorly educated - often second generation of people without prospects or hope. This, coupled with the rise in expectation and entitlement we have seen nationally across most elements of society, and the lies and broken promises of successive governments, are a dangerous mix. Born of towns and cities who have lost working class industries and left communities to decay. They’re often areas migrants have moved to as they are cheaper - though there is little integration and understanding between natives and migrants (even if second or third generation).

The media also has a huge part to play - the Daily Fail is huge in the North and breeds these disgusting attitudes (along with other polarising media). Whilst I appreciate the media’s role in free speech, along with Farage and others, they need to stand back and think about what they are doing. Germany in the 20s and 30s wasn’t born of the people it was born of the politicians and press creating ‘them and us’.

I counter this with these people being a minority in the North (and everywhere else).

Agree with everything you have written here 💯
But you missed out turning a blind eye to the grooming gangs and the Oldham race riots!

You forgot the blind eye when traffickers are sending out the boats across the channel!

There’s many disenfranchised men and women of all ages and backgrounds who are very concerned about immigration and who are currently watching in horror as these riots unfold. The majority of us wouldn’t choose this as a way to get our points across, but I’ll watch and listen with interest what Starmer intends to do. I really hope he will not condemn all people who are concerned about immigration, and lump them in with these thugs.

There was a multi agency "blind eye" to the Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morecambe Bay. All the locals knew it was a disaster waiting to happen. Local papers were full of letters by concerned residents. Police knew and did nothing, even to the obvious criminal activity such as unroadworthy vehicles, local councils did nothing. Letters were sent to local councillors and the local MP - basically ignored - just the usual fob off response by the MP. No doubt the "locals" were being ignored because the "authorities" thought it was borne out of racism! More nauseating was after the event, the police, local MP, etc were on the TV claiming they knew nothing, blaming "someone else", saying lessons must be learned etc - THEY knew exactly what was happening - THEY chose to ignore it!

Probably gone to join in the english ones. There was police presence in Cardiff yesterday but nothing going on in the town centre.

You're absolutely right, and I recognise much of what you say in my own area, but I suppose it has to be seen to be believed. It's very convenient of the government and the media to blame this on the tragedy in Southport because they don't want to address what's actually going on. Southport may have been a catalyst but it isn't the root cause.

Hitler's photographer/actress

Why should they stop them? It was us that severed our links with, and support from, them. We voted for that.

But tbf they didn’t do anything before Brexit either, when the problem was the immigrants were jumping onto moving lorries with no help from standing watching French police force.

The fact that a proportion of the voyages end in drownings ought to be a good enough reason for any civilised country.

Been watching the streams of the Rotherham riots and it's absolutely abohorant. These aren't people willing to talk or make a point about change, they are just pure racists looking for trouble. They've now ruined any chance of anything near a civil discussion.

They can claim it's a backlash of what has happened in Southport and because they are angry that an "immigrant" killed the girls but we all know they are after anyone with brown skin. If they were that outraged by adults killing children, where was there outrage over Lucy Letby? Or was that OK because she's white?

They claim to care about their communities and their country but they need to take a long hard look at the damage they've caused and the cost needed now to repair the damage they've cause, the Police Officers that they've put out of action and the areas they have destroyed.

Anyone of them that are identified, need to have their benefits docked or be suspended from work till they have repaired their communities. They have been looting Greggs too, why?!?!?

Racial tension has been building for a long time, thanks to certain Tories inflaming the situation and now we've had hot weather, excess alcohol and all the angry white men are using Southport as excuse to blow their tops.

Absolute embarrassment to the country

It’s almost like you think they are expendable in all this! I actually predicted this vile answer. Have a look and see about all the recent deaths across the channel. Your bitterness is in no way defendable.

Bristol
southend
portsmouth
aldershot
belfast

It does seem to be mainly areas where asylum seekers have been placed and/or integration has not happened.

It's interesting how one of the few places in the South (Weymouth) is where the Bibby Stockholm was placed.

Given the numbers have almost tripled post Brexit (30,000 asylum applications in 2016 compared to 81,000 in 2022) I’d say the French previously did a pretty good job of keeping them in France.