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The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Closure of community spaces fuelled ‘tinderbox' for far right to spark Southport riots, says report
The loss of community spaces created 'tinderbox conditions' for violence ahead of last year's far-right riots, a new report has found. A paper published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the loss of shared community spaces – from youth clubs and leisure centres to high-street pubs and piers – is leaving communities more vulnerable to far-right influence. It said the closure of these spaces is forcing people into isolation, prompting them to spend more time online and pushing them towards the far right. The report warned of a 'pincer movement of abandonment and gentrification' that has gradually led to the loss of community spaces – such as the Southport pier, which closed in 2022 – and an increase in isolation in many areas. Referring to previous research, the report said that 50 pubs permanently close in the UK each month, while an estimated 600 youth clubs shut down between 2012 and 2016. It noted that London lost almost 10 local authority-run community spaces a year between 2018 and 2023. The violence in Southport, which spread through parts of England and Northern Ireland after the 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana attacked a dance class in the town, murdering three young girls, should serve as a 'wake-up call', according to the author of the report, Dr Sacha Hilhorst. Dr Hilhorst said: 'The Southport riots were a wake-up call – a stark reminder of what can happen when communities lose the places that once brought people together. In the absence of shared spaces, misinformation and hate can fill the void, creating tinderbox conditions for violence. 'Rebuilding local infrastructure isn't just about nostalgia – it's a vital bulwark against division and the dangerous pull of the far right. 'But communities are not apathetic. They are crying out for places to gather, to organise, and to belong. We need a new generation of institutions to help them do just that.' The report said that the far right had 'capitalised on Southport's disrepair to sow disorder', and noted that a 'fight for investment in local amenities has garnered little attention' in the aftermath. It suggested the introduction of a '21st-century welfare fund' raised through a so-called Amazon tax, whereby warehouses and distribution centres are subject to higher levies or online sales taxes. It argued that online retailers who build 'giant structures' – a demonstration of their high value – often do not contribute 'sufficiently to the communities around them'. A tax on companies with revenues over £1m could help generate 'larger, more sustained resource for communities than current community regeneration efforts', it said. The report added: 'If there is a thread connecting the high-octane events of late July [2024] and the slow local politics of the pier, it is the loss of physical spaces where we might come together, and the radicalisation of some of the digital spaces that have replaced them. 'There is an appetite for community action, as the campaign for the pier shows, but a lack of investment and space. 'In the absence of structures which might foster wider solidarities, many retreat into the sphere of the home, or worse, into ethno-nationalist fantasies of muscular sovereignty.' The government has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bold proposal to fund community upgrades with so-called Amazon tax
Communities could be regenerated through a tax on wealthy firms such as Amazon in an effort to sow cohesion, a new report has suggested a year on from the summer riots. Disorder broke out after the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29 last year and quickly spread through parts of England and Northern Ireland. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the far-right 'capitalised on Southport's disrepair to sow disorder', as the paper it commissioned noted a 'fight for investment in local amenities has garnered little attention' in the aftermath. The report warned of a 'pincer movement of abandonment and gentrification' which has gradually seen community spaces, such as the Southport pier, which closed in 2022, being lost and the increased isolation of people in many areas. Referring to previous research, the report said 50 UK pubs close for good each month, an estimated 600 youth clubs shut between 2012 and 2016, and London lost almost 10 local authority-run community spaces a year between 2018 and 2023. It has suggested a '21st-century welfare fund' raised through a so-called Amazon tax, whereby warehouses and distribution centres are subject to higher levies or online sales taxes. It argued that online retailers, which build 'giant structures' – a demonstration of their high value – often do not contribute 'sufficiently to the communities around them'. A tax on companies with revenues over £1 million could help generate 'larger, more sustained resources for communities than current community regeneration efforts', it said. The report said: 'If there is a thread connecting the high-octane events of late July (2024) and the slow local politics of the pier, it is the loss of physical spaces where we might come together, and the radicalisation of some of the digital spaces that have replaced them. 'There is an appetite for community action, as the campaign for the pier shows, but a lack of investment and space. 'In the absence of structures which might foster wider solidarities, many retreat into the sphere of the home, or worse, into ethno-nationalist fantasies of muscular sovereignty.' Report author Dr Sacha Hilhorst said: 'The Southport riots were a wake-up call – a stark reminder of what can happen when communities lose the places that once brought people together. In the absence of shared spaces, misinformation and hate can fill the void, creating tinderbox conditions for violence. 'Rebuilding local infrastructure isn't just about nostalgia – it's a vital bulwark against division and the dangerous pull of the far right. 'But communities are not apathetic. They are crying out for places to gather, to organise, and to belong. We need a new generation of institutions to help them do just that.' Dr Parth Patel, associate director at the IPPR, said: 'Where shared spaces are lost, a sense of decline and disconnection takes root – and with it, dangerous alternatives thrive. 'The far right is exploiting the void where solidarity used to live – they capitalised on Southport's disrepair to sow disorder. 'If we're serious about social renewal, we must rebuild the civic infrastructure that once helped people support each other and shape their communities.' The government has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Active shooter opens fire in broad daylight in NYC, at least one police officer injured
An active shooter opened fire in broad daylight in the heart of New York City on Monday, injuring at least one police officer and one civilian. The New York Police Department urged the public to avoid the area of East 52 Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue in midtown Manhattan as videos shared online showed officers in protective gear entering a building with their guns drawn. Another video taken by Fox 5 shows several officers carrying a victim, while others appeared to be tending to a person lying on the ground. At least one police officer and a civilian have been shot, senior law enforcement officials told NBC News reporter Tom Winter.
