Through exploration of black British community activism in three geographical case studies, this book argues that the 1980-1 anti-police disturbances should be viewed as 'collective bargaining by riot'. Utilising many original sources, it charts dichotomous attitudes towards public inquiries and discussions of increased political participation.

Simon Peplow is a Senior Teaching Fellow in Twentieth Century British History at the University of Warwick

Introduction
1 Resistance to rebellion
2 'No other way to make their points of view known'? St Pauls, Bristol, 2 April 1980
3 Lacking conviction: inquiries and trials after Bristol
4 Escalation: Brixton, 10-12 April 1981
5 'The Brixton Defence Campaign says boycott the Scarman Inquiry'
6 A 'conspicuous success'? Policing Liverpool and Manchester in July 1981
7 'Who the hell's defending if they're going to walk out of here?' The Moss Side Defence Committee
Epilogue: 'Turning point' or 'opportunity lost'? The legacy of 1980-1
Index