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RACIST
attacks are on the increase in a North Wales town,
hit by two nights of violent clashes between Kurd
refugees and locals.
Last night Wrexham council chiefs pledged a
high-profile anti-racism campaign, amid fears more
attacks could be going unreported.
It comes as a report was yesterday released into the
background to the rioting, which erupted on the
town's Caia Park in June last year.
Rioters as young as 13, some wearing Osama bin Laden
masks, showered police with petrol bombs, stones and
wood as officers struggled to regain control of the
estate.
Violence was sparked when a window was smashed at a
Iraqi Kurd's home, then locals attacked a Kurd,
leaving him with head injuries, and later fighting
centred around the Red Dragon pub.
Police used CCTV footage to track the culprits and
bring them to justice.
Compiled by Wrexham council's strategic director
Malcolm Russell, the report said there were only 12
refugees staying on the estate, out of 38 in the
whole of Wrexham.
He says lessons must be learned from the riots, and
lists recommendations, from closer working with
police to monitoring migrant workers.
But his report also reveals race crime is on the
increase, mainly against workers from new EU
countries, and Portugal, tempted to Wrexham in
search of work, but who end up living in cramped
conditions.
There were 205 racially motivated incidents in
Wrexham between April 2001 and March 2004. More than
55% were assaults, and the number of incidents
increased in the last year.
"While the level of reported race incidents is
currently low, there are signs it is increasing,"
said Mr Russell.
"It seems likely there is a relation-ship between
this increase and the growth of the minority ethnic
population.
"There is clearly a need for the Wrexham community
to acknowledge this issue which may - partly because
of its size - remain hidden, and respond to it."
Wrexham Community Safety Partnership will now
develop a high profile anti-racism campaign for the
county.
The partnership will also look at a smoother system
for recording racial incidents and develop an
inter-agency approach to monitor and deal with
racist crime
After the riots, council chiefs took the
controversial decision to stop local councillors
having a say whether refugees should be housed in
their wards.
Mr Russell said: "Under the procedure, local elected
members had been notified of persons being
considered for allocation of housing in their wards
and allowed to provide observations and comments in
writing. This was now felt to be a potential
obstacle to appropriate rehousing of the refugees."
The report listed a raft of recommendations to
prevent a repeat of the Caia Park riots and tackle
other race crime.
They include the council rejoining the All Wales
Local Authority Consortium for Asylum Seekers and
Refugees. The Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seekers
Support Group should also be offered cash help.
Ways of integrating asylum seek-ers and refugees
into culturally sensitive services to promote race
relations also need to be developed.
In addition the council has to monitor the
increasing number of migrant workers moving to
Wrexham, their support needs, and their impact on
local services.
Access to the council's control centre during
emergencies is to be restricted to authorised
personnel only.
Council leader Neil Rogers insisted Wrexham would
still only take its allocated share of refugees.
"There are lessons to be learned and we now want to
go out to consult with the community across Wrexham
and work with partners such as social services,
probation and youth offending teams. There has been
a lot of good work since the trouble and we are now
looking at moving on."
After the riots it was revealed a specialist Caia
Park police team had been cut to one officer.
Since then a host of new measures has been put in
place, including a new six-strong police team, a
crime car, community initiatives and neighbourhood
wardens.
Figures out earlier this year showed crime has
fallen.
TROUBLE TIMELINE
June 22, 2003 8pm Police report two groups fighting
armed with sticks. Earlier an Iraqi Kurd was
admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.
Police turn up and the groups disperse. 8.50pm CCTV
spots 20 ethnic minority men and 15 white men
fighting with a variety of weapons. Police arrive
and both groups disperse.
June 23
10am North Wales Police receive intelligence
violence may flare again. noon Council chiefs decide
to take action and open emergency management centre.
5.30pm Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seekers Support
Group and the emergency welfare team find
alternative accommodation for refugees in local
church hall
7.05pm CCTV requested to search for a vehicle with
three people inside wearing bin Laden masks shouting
racist abuse. Vehicle stopped and occupants
arrested.
7.45pm CCTV spots youths spraying racist graffiti. A
youth is later arrested.
9.25pm Cameras spot about 50 white men leaving
Queensway social club heading toward Y Wern. They
clash with police and regroup outside Red Dragon.
9.30pm Three refugee youths spotted walking to the
Red Dragon pub armed with knives. Police arrest
them.
9.45pm 50-strong group bombard police line on Prince
Charles Road with bricks, stones and bottles. Extra
officers drafted in to assist.
June 24
1.30am Clear up begins. 10am first of a raft of
meetings between community leaders and police get
underway to share information and discuss ways
forward.
11.30am Press conference broadcast nationally with
message to keep calm.
June 25/26 Public meetings held between police,
council officials and locals to address concerns.
June 27
25 refugees relocated to Clwyd House.
July 2003
All refugees at Clwyd house moved into fresh
accommodation or new areas.
August 2003
Further public meeting in Caia Park with action plan
presented by task group on a way forward.
Punished for role in the chaos
FIFTY people were handed more than 80 years in total
behind bars following the riots.
Two boys aged 16 and 17 received a total of 11 years
and eight months custody for their part in the
violence.
The youngest, just 13, escaped custody but was
tagged and put under supervision.
The judge said what started as a race battle had
degenerated into an excuse to injure as many police
officers.
And lawyers said the scenes resembled World War III.
Riot squad officers were drafted in to help local
police.
Locals pelted them with petrol bombs, stones and
wood.
ic NorthWales
Daily Post
http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk
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