Meadow Well riots

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The Meadow Well riots happened from 9 to 12 September 1991 on the Meadow Well estate in North Shields, near Newcastle, England. The trouble began after a police inquiry about young people and quickly spread to nearby areas, including Benwell, Scotswood, Elswick and Pennywell in Sunderland. At the time, unemployment and crime were high in the region, and the estate was notorious as a rough area where outsiders and the police were often not welcome.

The riots were sparked by the deaths of two local youths, Dale Robson and Colin Atkins, who died while fleeing police after a stolen car crash. Some rioters were said to be angry at the police, and violence escalated into looting, arson and vandalism. A youth centre, a health centre and an electricity sub-station were set on fire, and many buildings and vehicles were damaged. During the peak, about 400 people were involved, and around 50 were arrested. Shops were attacked, and at times Asians shopkeepers were forced from their homes before fires were started. Police and fire crews were blocked by rioters, and police stations and roads were attacked.

By 12 September the unrest had spread across Tyne and Wear to places like Benwell. Authorities faced large crowds throwing bricks and damaging fire engines, with Benwell’s high street left badly damaged. Prime Minister John Major and Home Secretary Kenneth Baker condemned the rioters, though Major’s initial choice not to deploy riot police immediately was later criticized.

Afterwards, significant money was spent to rebuild. About 750 homes were demolished, with new houses built and others refurbished. A new community centre, health centre and police station were created (the police station has since closed). Local groups like the Cedarwood Trust helped rebuild the community, and Meadow Well-Connected, created in 1993, supported residents with training and volunteering.

The Meadow Well riots were part of a wave of British rioting in 1991–1992, which also affected Handsworth, Ely, Kates Hill and Blackbird Leys. Rioting of this scale in Britain did not happen again until August 2011.