Handsworth Riots: 25 years on from a night of hell

Sep 10 2010 By Anuji Varma

25 years ago Handsworth and Lozells erupted in death, destruction, fire and looting. Anuji Varma looks at what sparked the violence and how the area has transformed since.

As the police officer slapped a fine onto the illegally parked car little did he know his actions would lead to such death and destruction.

The vehicle had pulled up outside the Acapulco Cafe, in Lozells Road, Lozells, at 4.45pm on September 9 – on closer inspection the officer noticed there was no tax disc.

But it was the driver’s actions which sparked one of the worst nights of violence Birmingham has ever seen, leaving two dead and millions of pounds worth of damage to property.

The man resisted arrest and fled into the cafe. When officers arrived to assist they were pelted with stones, bottles and staves. Eleven were left injured and the seeds of the riot were sown.

What ensued over the next 32 hours was an orgy of violence, with two brothers murdered, shops burned to the ground, looters raiding their local stores and police under attack.

Gangs were secretly manufacturing petrol bombs in retaliation in an illegal gambling den overlooking the Villa Cross Bingo Hall. The bombs were distributed to the Night Spot Cafe, and the Villa Cross pub, both in Lozells Road.

A series of hoax calls were made to police attempting to lure them into the area and ambush officers and just moments later the bombs were pelted at the bingo hall. When officers arrived they found themselves under fire and were forced to retreat.

A mob of 200 rioters gathered in Villa Road but officers were helpless to break them up because they were not equipped with the correct gear.

It was at about 9pm when fire officers became aware of the Moledina brothers’ decision to stay put in their Post Office to protect their property. It was a decision that was to cost them their lives.

As the buildings burned in Lozells Road, the looters were out in full force raiding their local shops.

A police log at the time recorded: “An air of excitement is noticeable among the looters – one man pushing a trolley-load of stolen property shouts: ‘I’m shopping early for Christmas’.”

But there was a more sinister side. Another log chillingly recorded: “Riot leaders emerge. One tall Rastafarian is seen ordering a group of between ten and 15 blacks to loot shops then set the premises alight at the command of ‘fire’.”

Witnesses at the time told how they saw looters carrying away plundered goods, and then being mugged themselves.

Ann Conway, a voluntary worker, said: “The owners of the shop were obviously very distraught and some of the people had been customers days before.”

It wasn’t until 11.45pm that police finally regained some sort of order with the help of residents.

Local Rastafarian Nigel Heath appealed for calm and walked up and down the streets pleading through a loud hailer for black people to “cool it” and return to their homes.

But the following day trouble was still brewing with the first reports of children looting on their way to school at 8am. Anarchy had moved on to Handsworth where a mob of 500 gathered in Heathfield Road.