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1981 Brixton Riots

Police Officers gather around a burnt out car at the fork of Railton Rd & Mayall Rd

Police cordon off Railton Road by The Atlantic which was later destroyed buy rioters. Members of the public continue to shop in Coldharbour lane, despite the destruction only streets away.

A Times photographer photographs Inspector Dennis Bell in Railton Road

A burnt out police van lies on its side in Railton Road while residents watch on from a nearby house

Rioters pause temporarily to allow a local back to his home

Railton Road

Residents from nearby houses look on as a car burns.

Hasty first aid.

Coldharbour Lane later in the day as things start to turn unpleasant.
The police were making snatch raids on ringleaders using vans, which in those days had no riot protection.

Railton rd, another car burns.

Coldhabour Lane; more burnt police vehicles. Again, residents remain in the area watching events unfold.

Rioters gather toward the end of a deserted and rock-strewn Railton Rd. To the right, an abandonded police van.

The police line on Railton Rd

Police and onlookers retreat rapidly as a vehicle is hit with a molotov cocktail and explodes

A burnt out car lies on its side in Railton Rd

Police look on as another car explodes. Railton Rd

Local people survey the wreckage in Railton rd. In the early stages of the riot members of the public were surprisingly safe and wandered unhindered in areas the police couldn't get to.

A local man walks across the street in relative safety as police look on.

A rather straggly police line at the intersection of Kellet rd and Talma rd.

Posted

June 7, 2026

in

by

henrythecow

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Kim Aldis | Photographer

Kim Aldis | Photographer