Core Study #2: NatCen/Morrell et al. (2011))

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

rioting took place in London to 6 aug - 11 aug 2011
It started during a peaceful protest in response to fatal shooting of mark Duggan by the police

Question 2

Background to Tottenham riot

Answer 2

• Tottenham has a history of rioting, in 1985 a protest began outside a police station following the death of a women who collapsed during a raid. This became violent and a police officer was killed.
• Tottenham is an area of high unemployment due to declining local industry , 48% children living there were classified as living in poverty
• Still viewed as a good place to live where openness and tolerance were valued

Question 3

Aim of study

Answer 3

: to investigate what triggered
the Tottenham riots in 2011 and the extent and nature of youth involvment

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

Morell at al wanted to know why young people get involved in riots , they did not have a specific hypothesis but their report was broken down into sections

• what occurred - based on police and eyewitness
• who was involved
• why and how young people are involved

Question 5

research method/design

Answer 5

• prepared for the cabinet office by Morell et al on behalf of natcen

Question 6

sample

Answer 6

• 36 participants interviewed , split between over and under 18 - diversed - ( gender. ethnicity, work status)
  vast majority in education

Question 7

Procedure

Answer 7

• Data gathered 5 weeks after the
  riots took place. Incident between
  the police and a girl was the trigger
  for a peaceful protest becoming
  violent.
• participants were assured that research was confidential and anonymous
• researcher agreed not to report any criminal behaviour
• Participants were interviewed individually or in groups of 2 or 4

Question 8

What happened in Tottenham?

Answer 8

• 16:00 - family, friends of Mark Duggan gather outside police station for peaceful protest (300)
• 19:20 - bottles thrown at police cars and a vehicle set alight
  from 20:00 to 23:00
  riot officers, police arrive to stop it = get attacked (bottles, fireworks)
  London fire brigade get first call to arrive
  shops set alight

continued until 6:15 am

Question 9

Results

Answer 9

Key motivation for
involvement: benefitting
from exciting experience,
opportunity to loot, getting
back at police.
* Nudge (encouraged) e.g.
poor job prospects, and tug
(discouraged) e.g. getting
caught, factors influenced
people.
- wide range of ppl involved

Question 10

First category of people involved

Answer 10

• Watchers : young ppl observed but not take part
• Bystanders = young people who happen to be there , live locally or happen to be passing through at that time
• The curious young people who deliberately chose to be there to observe