'Citizens Inquiry' to investigate Tottenham riots (From Haringey Independent)
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'Citizens Inquiry' to investigate Tottenham riots
2:30pm Thursday 6th October 2011 in News
By David Hardiman, Reporter
Riot police in Tottenham on August 6.
COMMUNITY leaders are to hold their own six-week inquiry into August's Tottenham riots in a bid to provide independent analysis of the violence.
North London Citizens – an alliance of schools, universities, religious organisations and charities – will hear evidence from October 15 at the Tottenham Dream Centre in the Town Hall.
The Citizens Inquiry – which will provide a report with recommendations separate from Government and Haringey Council panels – will be chaired by eleven 'commissioners', who have been selected for being leaders of the community.
Among those are Symeon Brown, founder of Haringey Young People Empowered, and Dawn Ferdinand, headteacher of The Willow Primary School – formerly Broadwater Farm Primary – as well as well as students and youth workers.
St Ignatius College student Edward Badu, who is on the panel, said: “As someone born and raised in Tottenham, and as a young commissioner on the Citizens Inquiry, I want to show that not all young people are rioters or looters and that many young people are working to rebuild our neighbourhoods as community leaders.
“This inquiry is so important because it will ensure that the community is not just listened to, but an active part of the response.
“We need to think deeply about the riots in Tottenham and what can we can do collectively with those in positions of power to move forward.”
The group have taken legal and financial guidance on how to run the hearings, which will finish in November, with a report to be published early next year.
The public hearings are open for anyone to submit evidence and North London Citizens have called on the public to come forward with their stories.
A peaceful prayer vigil for shot Tottenham man Mark Duggan on August 6 ended in a violent riot through the street, causing shops to be looted and buildings to be set on fire – leaving 54 families homeless.
Three days of looting and rioting followed in towns and cities across England, including in neighbouring boroughs Enfield and Hackney.
