Case Study of the Oldham Riots 2001
Causes of the Riots in Oldham
Long Term
- At one time Oldham produced 13% of the world’s cotton
- It was dependant on the industry
- Couldn’t compete with foreign competition (although it tried to until 1989)
- After WWII migrants from the commonwealth were encouraged to move to Oldham to supplement the workforce
- These were mainly Caribbean and Pakistani, and later Bangladeshi
- 1960 – Larger numbers of Indians, Pakistanis and Caribbean migrants settled
- Due to poor circumstances, they lived in concentrated communities, often the poorest
- South Asian populations remained very culturally contrasted within Oldham
- Asians make up 12% of the population
- Glodwick and Clarksfield are very closed communities of Pakistanis
- Westwood and Coldhurst are very closed communities of Bangladeshis
- Little Education and working class ethics caused derogatory attitude towards migrants
- Urban myths arose causing further tensions o Areas such as Sholver, Abbeyhills, Limeside, Fitton Hill were seen as no go areas for Asians (which was proved when whites only graffiti was found by the Richie Report) o The council were also holding back the socio-economic development of Asians o Whites believed that more money was spent on Asians on mosque building etc (Majority of investment was actually in white areas, Goldwick and Westwood received £16m and Hathershaw and Fitton Hill received £53m) o Asians believed that the police instigated the Oldham Riots o Whites that the flag of England was being removed from council buildings to celebrate Asian culture.
- A review blamed deep rooted segregation which was not addressed
- Poverty and lack of opportunity
Mid Term Causes
- In the year leading to the Oldham Riots, there were 572 reported ethnically motivated crimes
- In 62% white people were victims
- Nick Griffin of BNP announced he would stand for election in Oldham Wet and Royton
- National Front announced its interest in the area too
- According to the
Long Term
- At one time Oldham produced 13% of the world’s cotton
- It was dependant on the industry
- Couldn’t compete with foreign competition (although it tried to until 1989)
- After WWII migrants from the commonwealth were encouraged to move to Oldham to supplement the workforce
- These were mainly Caribbean and Pakistani, and later Bangladeshi
- 1960 – Larger numbers of Indians, Pakistanis and Caribbean migrants settled
- Due to poor circumstances, they lived in concentrated communities, often the poorest
- South Asian populations remained very culturally contrasted within Oldham
- Asians make up 12% of the population
- Glodwick and Clarksfield are very closed communities of Pakistanis
- Westwood and Coldhurst are very closed communities of Bangladeshis
- Little Education and working class ethics caused derogatory attitude towards migrants
- Urban myths arose causing further tensions o Areas such as Sholver, Abbeyhills, Limeside, Fitton Hill were seen as no go areas for Asians (which was proved when whites only graffiti was found by the Richie Report) o The council were also holding back the socio-economic development of Asians o Whites believed that more money was spent on Asians on mosque building etc (Majority of investment was actually in white areas, Goldwick and Westwood received £16m and Hathershaw and Fitton Hill received £53m) o Asians believed that the police instigated the Oldham Riots o Whites that the flag of England was being removed from council buildings to celebrate Asian culture.
- A review blamed deep rooted segregation which was not addressed
- Poverty and lack of opportunity
Mid Term Causes
- In the year leading to the Oldham Riots, there were 572 reported ethnically motivated crimes
- In 62% white people were victims
- Nick Griffin of BNP announced he would stand for election in Oldham Wet and Royton
- National Front announced its interest in the area too
- According to the