A mass brawl erupted between rivalling groups of youths who clashed in an area where former Home Secretary David Blunkett warned of rioting due to the high influx of Roma immigrants.
The former Home Secretary warned last November that tensions between the Muslim population and Roma immigrants in the Page Hall area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, could escalate into rioting unless action was taken to improve integration.
Tensions came to a head on Sunday 19th May when more than 25 people got involved in the mass disturbance which broke out in the residential area at around 8pm.
One teenager was left needing hospital treatment as a result of the violence, which escalated quite quickly.
The 17-year-old boy suffered a suspected broken arm in the disturbance, which was watched by dozens of concerned residents who poured into the street to watch the clash unfold.
Several residents rang the emergency number '999' after becoming concerned at the scale of the disorder and many have now called on the authorities to do more to help ease community tensions.
One ''local'' said: ‘Members of the existing community are tired and quite frankly frightened at the swiftness of how the situation became enflamed'.
‘Council and Government agencies need to be aware of the truth and how the decent residents of this troubled district need support and assurance that they are safe to walk the streets.’
South Yorkshire Police has not revealed the ethnicity of the 25 people involved in the disturbance but confirmed no arrests have yet been made.
A Section 60 order, which allows officers to stop, search and disperse individuals, was issued in the area to help ease tensions.
Inspector Richard Burgess said: ‘There was a police presence in the area throughout the evening to ensure no further issues developed and we will continue to provide a high visibility policing presence in the following days.
‘Officers are thoroughly investigating and are continuing with enquires. We are determined that those responsible for this outbreak of disorder will be held to account for their actions.’
Last year, former Home Secretary and Sheffield MP David Blunkett warned of potential rioting in the suburb which is plagued by unrest among ethnic groups.
Mr Blunkett, who was born in the city, said the area could ‘explode’ in the same way that street warfare broke out in other northern towns between ethnic groups two decades ago.
‘We have got to change the behaviour and the culture of the incoming community, the Roma community, because there’s going to be an explosion otherwise,’ he said at the time'. He said.
He also accused the coalition Government of ‘burying their heads in the sands’ over the sheer scale of gipsy arrivals.
The Roma population in Sheffield is said to be between 2,000 and 4,000 and growing. More than 1,000 Roma patients are registered to two GP practices alone.
Final thought.
Why did the state controlled media keep this quiet and away from their viewers and readers ?.
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