Sir, A (too rare) French free-marketer myself, I entirely agree with David Aaronovitch’s take (Comment, November 8) on the riots in France. At the end of the day, nothing excludes and frustrates like not having a job, however decent your benefits and your dentist.

The other factor that keeps coming up in the rioters’ complaints, and what has perhaps not really been appreciated yet by the British media, is heavy policing of the suburbs. This started in the late 1990s, after a second wave of appalling bombings in Paris, and has had the same effect as it did in, say, Belfast, ie, to alienate further the population under constant police/army watch.

This anti-terror type of policing, which is about to be emulated by Great Britain, produces nasty effects. I, a white banker living in Bayswater, won’t be stopped any more often by the police when it is implemented, but people in Brick Lane will.

GUILLAUME BONNETON
London W2

Sir, Police checks on ID cards are a great source of friction among minority populations in countries that have them. This is being borne out with a vengeance in France today, where one of the chief complaints of minority communities is the frequency of police ID card checks on youths. It was while attempting to avoid just such an ID check that the two youngsters whose deaths precipitated the rioting were electrocuted.

The behaviour of the rioters is utterly unacceptable, and its causes are greatly more complex than just the oppressive irritation of constant ID surveillance; but this latter, as a very specific trigger for trouble, should give our own Government vivid reasons for thinking again about its misguided and illiberal scheme.

A. C. GRAYLING
Professor of Philosophy
Birkbeck College,
University of London

Sir, The Paris riots recall the Brixton conflagration of the 1970s. One of Britain’s most senior judges, Lord Scarman, with a reputation for open- and fair-mindedness, was appointed to head an inquiry.

He and a small team moved into offices in Brixton and opened doors to all-comers, from all levels of the community. It took time to build trust, but he succeeded.

Scarman’s report took about eight months and contained around 80 recommendations, covering housing, schooling, training, community concerns, setting up business support organisations (eg, along the lines of the fine work done by the Prince’s Trust), strengthening community relationships, involving all aspects of life in the area. He felt strongly about the need to give people a sense of purpose and dignity.

Brixton today is a tribute to those efforts on the part of the community as a whole. It might be worthwhile dusting off the files to recall knowledge of the time and its achievements (from a most improbable start).

BRIAN WARNES
London SE3

Sir, David Aaronovitch offers an accurate diagnosis of the main cause of discontent among ethnic minority youth in France. But we British people need to be careful in offering advice to our French neighbours.

Prime Minister Villepin’s proposals amount to a sensible, balanced response to the immediate problems. Moreover, as recently as October 26 Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy — himself a second-generation immigrant and supporter of affirmative action — held a conference in Paris which dealt with the whole range of issues concerning diversity, discrimination and multiculturalism.

The fact that the riots in Paris wrong-footed the Government reminds one of the warnings of impending troubles in Brixton some of us gave the authorities here in the UK. Our French colleagues could well benefit from reading the Scarman report into the Brixton disturbances. Much of Scarman’s analysis and remedies still hold good.

One warning I would give the French is that the interests of ethnic minorities are not best served by listening to self-appointed, grandstanding “community leaders”. Another thought is that they should adopt a sceptical attitude to offers of help from race relations consultants and trainers.

PAUL TWYMAN
Former Vice-Chair
Lambeth Community Police
Consultative Group
London SE5

Sir, Maybe the French should consider their ethnic minorities are more integrated than they give them credit for. Isn’t the current spate of arson and rioting traditionally French? It is after all how the nation was born.

JOHN BUTLER
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Explore Letters

• Feedback