"We need to find out what we can do to intervene"
Leicester’s mayor has announced that the violent clashes between groups of mainly young Hindu and Muslim men in the city are to be the subject of an independent review.
Mayor Peter Soulsby said the review will examine whether external organisations encouraged the disorders.
The review should be completed within weeks.
He said: “We need to have an understanding of what happened, why it happened and whether it was motivated by extreme ideologies imported from elsewhere.
“We need to find out what we can do to intervene to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.”
The unrest in Leicester was the culmination of several weeks of growing tension between parts of the Hindu and Muslim communities in the city.
An unplanned protest march through the city took place on September 17, 2022.
In response to this, a demonstration took place.
It was reported that there had been attacks on Hindus celebrating a festival.
These attacks saw people verbally abused and threatened with knives.
This subsequently escalated into civil unrest.
Videos circulated on social media showed cars being damaged, fights and scuffles breaking out and someone apparently tearing down a flag at a temple.
Nationalist organisations have been accused of stoking tensions online.
A total of 47 people have been arrested, 20 at the weekend. Some have been sentenced for possession of weapons.
The clashes shocked many residents in Leicester, which has built a reputation as a harmonious city after decades of waves of immigration.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman met the police in Leicester to discuss the unrest in the city.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said:
“I can confirm the Home Secretary visited Leicester today and was briefed by Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon and other senior officers.
“We won’t be providing any further detail in relation to the meeting.”
It is believed that Ms Braverman has been in regular contact with the chief constable.
The independent review is expected to look at whether the majority of the trouble involved outsiders.
Eight of the 18 people arrested on September 18 were not from Leicestershire. Five came from Birmingham, one came from Solihull, one from Luton and one gave an address in Hounslow.
The idea of a cross-agency review was raised on September 21 at a meeting between members of the local community, the police and the council.
Mr Soulsby said: “We will look to our local universities for someone to conduct the review, but the actual format and remit has not yet been finalised.”
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