... these disturbances do not have all the fundamental characteristics to define them as a 'true riot'. There is certainly strong evidence to suggest that these 'riots' were race related and were particularly focused on the police. Some argue that the disturbances were a direct result of the police's neglect of the well being of its black communities. Furthermore, the riots that erupted in Bristol in 1980, began after a raid on a café escalated into street disorder and only ended after police had withdrawn from the area, thus leading to allegations that the district had become a 'no-go' area (Rowe, M. 1995). The rioting against police has been put down to the fact that the black communities had no faith or trust in the police force after years of being ignored, therefore they had no relationship and 'no mercy'. Fryer suggests that the disorders in Bristol became 'a symbol ...

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