LAYING the blame for the riots in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley in 2001 on “ethnic differences” over-simplifies the causes of the troubles and could undermine the approach of policymakers, according to an unpublished study by the University of Bradford commissioned by the West Yorkshire Police.
Deprivation, criminality, gender and identity are as much a cause of the riots as race, Professor Jenny Pearce tells Regeneration & Renewal (Sept 1). Both white and Asian men voiced similar attitudes to researchers. “We need . . . policies commensurate with the problems,” Professor Pearce says.