Riots taking on the estate where I live

[ChrisH]

I am posting this in the Dog House only because there is a racial element to what was/is happening here.
It is 1.20am, I am up late and with the police helicopter buzzing around it would not be easy to sleep even if I tried....although it seems to have gone now.
Even though all this is/was all happening a minute or so walk away from where I live it is still pretty scary!

This is the report of what happened yesterday (Sunday) evening.
Plea for calm after race riot (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/3014210.stm)

That plea fell on deaf ears because all hell broke loose tonight..
Renewed violence on Wrexham estate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/3015168.stm)
....and by the grapevine there have been cars set on fire, windows smashed, all sorts of general violence and mayhem.

Well, it seem to have gone quiet now so maybe I can get some sleep.
Goodnight (I hope!)

Chris

Christine

[lizbud]

Chris,

This sounds like a very scary situation. I hope that you and
your family are in no danger & that things settle down soon.
This country has had it's share of race riots also. What are their
grievances? Is it discrimination, lack of jobs, housing ? I hope
you stay safe & get some rest. Thinking of you & hoping for
the best.:)

[PayItForward]

Hope you and yours are safe.

Sounds like you are having a scary time.

[mugsy]

Not a good situation. I hope it can be cleared up soon! Stay safe.

[ChrisH]

Thanks for your concern Liz, Jenny and Molly.

These reports were on the BBC News website this morning
More violence on the Caia estate (http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/3015168.stm)

Landlord to leave Caia pub (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3016300.stm)

Liz, I am not sure how or why it all began, rumours and stories abound, most being the result of snowballing uninformed gossip. However, I do believe that when it began, on Sunday night, it had something to do with bad feeling between some of the Iraqi refugees and some of the residents in the area. All of which is bad enough but last night, I am sure, was just some yobos going on a rampage, pure lawlessness. Hopefully, it is now at an end.
On a personal note this area and, more importantly, some of my neighbours will never sit easy in my mind again. I know no-one around me condoned the violence but their attitudes when the Iraqi refugees were mentioned made me both mad and sad all at once, I thought I knew these people......Got to go now and pick my grandaughter up from school, I may get back to you all on this later.

Once again thank you all for your concern, it helps!:)

[mugsy]

I've been hearing on talk radio about the trouble that Tony Blair is having because no WMDs have been unearthed. Do you think that had anything to do with it?

[ChrisH]

Originally posted by mugsy
I've been hearing on talk radio about the trouble that Tony Blair is having because no WMDs have been unearthed. Do you think that had anything to do with it?
No, Molly I don`t, to be brutally honest I`m certain none of them think that deep! And I am ashamed of them, and other more `respectable`ones too, hearing some of the comments that have been made.
Here is a link to a couple of articles in our local evening newspaper, look for...
I escaped Sadaam and Rioters are destroying community (http://www.leadernow.co.uk/)

No trouble tonight, I think that is because of the police being around there all day. I walked past after taking Dannielle home and there were quite a few officers there. Comforting.

Chris

[lizbud]

Chris,

Thank you for the added links to explain more about this
story & situation. It helps me understand better. I do hope
it stays peaceful where you are & you all stay safe tonight.
Oh, I found an interesting story on dogs while I was looking
around at the BBC site. Thought you might enjoy it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2956766.stm

Have a good evening & give hugs to Bob & Ebby. :)

[LoudLou]

Hoping that you and family are safe. And sleep well tonight. Keeping you in our prayers.

LOUD Louie & The Beans, Kate & Kit

[KYS]

Thanks for the links,
I agree a very scary situation.
When I see riots in our own country on the news, and
see, looting, destruction, burning, and fighting it scares me
that people re-act this way.

I hope that the rioting has ended, and you are yours
will be safe.

[ChrisH]

Thanks everyone :) and Liz, you are right, I did find the story on dogs interesting thanks!:D

Was quiet last night, may have been because of all the police around. There were a few there this morning too, I saw them when I went to get my lottery ticket from the local shop, a pair of foot constables, three cars and one van. It is strange because once away from there and across in to our `respectable` :rolleyes: part of the place you wouldn`t know there were any police about.

Here is a link to todays two reports in our local paper,
Riot Police Calm and Frontline Hooligans involved (http://www.leadernow.co.uk/)

And this is the link to the BBC News report
PM speaks out after estate violence (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/3016600.stm)

Two bits I have plucked out from the BBC report

....Officers, some carrying mobile CCTV cameras, then patrolled the estate all night standing in groups on every street corner.
Not quite true, there were not any police on my street corner or nearby, I think they were just concentrated at the trouble spot and surrounds.

The following day, North Wales Police Chief Superintendent Stephen Curtis said the continuing troubles on the estate was down to criminals.
I fully agree with the Superintendent in regard to what happened on Monday.

Hopefully all the trouble and violence has now ended.

Chris

[joycenalex]

dear chris, i'm glad that things have settled down in your area. i was 10 years old when detroit had a major riot in1967. the national guard came to help restore order. there were several deaths, i was very scared.
when i read your usage of the word estate, i think of estate as a large park-like area fenced off with a house, big of course. is the term estate in wales something like a small town? thanks, joyce

[ChrisH]

Joycenalex, thanks for your interest.:) I guess what has been happening here is small potatoes compared to your experience, and indeed to similar riots that have taken place in the UK too. In a way I think that is what makes it so unsettling as well as scary, this is sort of thing we see happen in Liverpool, London etc, not in a town here in North Wales, even in a large one like Wrexham.

Estate? Ok, over here an estate also can mean the same as you describe, ie Duke of Westminsters estate. But, in it also used to mean an housing estate, which is a number of houses in one area, sometimes large, sometimes not.
Here is a description of Caia Park estate I copied from a website.

Caia Park in Wrexham is one of the largest local authority housing estates in North Wales, with approximately 4200 properties and a population of around 14,000. The residents of Caia Park form 11.5% of the total population of the county borough. The 1991 Census shows that 65% of the accommodation in Caia Park is in Council ownership.

Hope that explains it at least a little!:D

I am going to attach a map combo to give you all an idea of the area
The first one is part of Wrexham County, with an X for Caia Park, on the top, and Wrexham town on the bottom.

[joycenalex]

chris! that's much too close for any comfort! yowsa! that looks to be a 20 minute easy walk. i'm so glad they settled down.

[lizbud]

Chris,

Thanks for the area maps. I can see how close you live to
the rioting. I hope you're feeling much safer now. Isn't it sad
that hate seems to be a universal affliction of mankind.:(

Ah well, one day maybe we'll all grow up. :) Take care.:)