Leicester disorder: Review panel in call for evidence

A panel leading a review into the cause of disorder in Leicester has appealed for people with evidence to contact them in confidence.

Dozens were arrested after days of vandalism, assaults, and attacks on property in the east of the city in September 2022.

Former Labour MP Lord Ian Austin was appointed to lead the review when it launched in 2023.

The panel is aiming to publish its findings in October.

The unrest followed tensions involving mainly young men from Hindu and Muslim communities, which culminated in large-scale disorder.

Lord Austin told the BBC on Tuesday that the Independent Leicester Review Panel had already heard from "hundreds of local people" as well as voluntary organisations, political leaders, the police, the city council and more.

The review was commissioned last year by the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, in May 2023.

The government's decision to appoint Lord Austin was criticised by some Muslim organisations over comments he has made in the past.

He said he had spent a lifetime fighting prejudice and asked to meet communities in the city.

Lord Austin said: "We have spoken to some people from the Muslim community.

"If people don't want to talk to me, they can speak to the other panel members and they can certainly take part in the online survey."

By Jeremy Ball, BBC East Midlands Today social affairs correspondent

The big question for the Leicester review is: Why did tensions erupt so badly?

How much was it about religion? How was it linked to changing patterns of immigration?

How much was it about different perceptions of anti-social behaviour?

And, how was fear fuelled by misinformation that spread like wildfire online?

The panel also wants to hear suggestions about how to prevent future unrest in Leicester and across the country.

Its recommendations will be for both the city and national government.

Since the review launched, Lord Austin said the panellists had visited Leicester 15 times and had also held about 15 meetings online.

The call for evidence will be open until 4 June, and evidence can be submitted on the government website.

All responses to the appeal will be treated confidentially unless respondents state otherwise, the panel said.

The panel will also be speaking to local authorities and police forces in other parts of the country, and is speaking to experts about the role social media played.

Lord Austin added: "In the end, if we're producing the report, it obviously makes sense for everybody to have their voice heard and this is going to make recommendations to the government, so why would you not want to?"

The final report will share recommendations, with the aim of preventing the events in Leicester from happening again, in the city and elsewhere across the country.

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