Immigration in society

Following the rise in immigration due to the 1948 Commonwealth Nationality Act, many White Britons seemed to react angrily at how many immigrants were arriving and were taking over most jobs and housing in areas such as Notting Hill. The film East is East shows immigration and the inital reaction to immigrants. Though previous events such as the Notting Hill race riots seem to show the negative reaction of immigrants.

The result of immigration had an impending affect on white Britons. The first influx of immigrants arrived from the Caribbean in 1955 and 1964. The prospect of housing and employment tempted many immigrants to arrive in Britain. Though, not all immigrants were welcomed, as the Notting Hill race riots in 1958, was an attack on black families in the area, by a group of white working class 'Teddy Boys'. The riots were spurred by groups such as Sir Oswald Mosley's Union Movement and other fascist groups, who advocated racism and sympathised with disaffected white residents to "Keep Britain White".

As well as this, there was an increase in violent attacks on black people through the summer. An example of this attach took place on 24 August 1958, where a group of ten white youths committed a series of serious assaults on six West Indian men in four separate incidents.

The riot is thought to have started on Saturday 30 August when a gang of white youths attacked a Swedish woman, Majbritt Morrison, as she had been seen arguing with her Jamaican husband Raymond at Latimer Road tube station. At first,they had shouted racial insults at him and were incensed when she turned on them. Seeing her the next night, the same youths pelted her with bottles, stones and wood and struck her in the back with an iron bar, until the police intervened and she was escorted home.

Later that night a mob of 300 to 400 white people, many of them "Teddy Boys", were seen on Bramley Road attacking the houses of West Indian residents

However, these attacks are not the only ones directed at ethnic minorites. The Southall Riots (1979) was initially an anti racist campaign against the National Front which became violent, as over 40 people, including 21 police, were injured and 300 were arrested . The leader of the campaign , Blair Peach, a local school teacher and anti racism campaigner who campaigned against neo Nazi movements and stood up for ethnic minorites was knocked unconscious and later died.

As well as this, the Toxtett Riots in 1981 was in part due to the long-standing tensions between the local police and the black community, as black people were not treated equally and were subjected to hatred by the police.

Though the riot could be related to the implementation of the sus laws, which allowed the police to search any person who looked dodgy or was doing any wrong doing.

In conjunction to this, the Brixtion Riots in 1981 there were a futher attack on immigrants, as the body of a black youth, who had been stabbed in an attack, was seemingly being helped by police. A crowd gathered and, as the police did not appear to be providing /obtaining the medical help the victim needed fast enough, the crowd tried to intervene. The police then tried to take the wounded youth to a waiting car , however the crowd then struggled with the police, which resulted in more police being called in to the area. Rumours spread that the youth had been left to die by the police, or that the police looked on as the stabbed youth was lying on the street. Over 200 youths, black and white, reportedly turned on the police, which resulted in an angry conflict between the police and black people, due to negligence and supposed hatred.

Following the Brixton riots, similar attacks on the police followed, with the Chapeltown riots and Moss Side riots aimed at police , due to economic problems, as well as the treatment of ethnic minorities such as blacks. Though attacks between ethnic groups have been common, with the Handsworth riots between Asians and Blacks down to the fact that Asians were prosepring in the area, much to the jealousy of the black community in the area, though the riots may have been down to poor social conditions, racial discrimination, poverty, unemployment and dilapidated housing.