Council to review child protection case that triggered Leeds unrest

Leeds city council is undertaking an urgent review of the child protection case that triggered unrest in the city on Thursday night.

A police car was flipped on its side and a bus burned out in what police described as “serious disorder” in the Harehills area of the city, which began when children from a Roma family were taken into care.

Videos from the evening showed children being led from a house on Luxor Street by police officers who had been called when a disturbance began.

As a crowd gathered, more officers were called in, and later riot police, after a police car was vandalised. After clashes with people throwing bricks and bottles, the police withdrew.

A fire was then started and an arson attack was carried out on a doubledecker bus that had been abandoned by the driver and passengers further along Harehills Lane, a main road cutting through east Leeds.

Related: ‘We’re in it together’: how unrest in Leeds escalated – and was defused

The unrest, which was described as “spontaneous and opportunist” by a police spokesperson, was over by 1am on Friday when local people gathered water from their homes to put out the fires.

A statement issued afterwards from organisations working with Roma people called for immediate engagement with the family at the centre of the furore and for an urgent meeting with the council and police to reassure Roma families and prevent the negative impact the events could have on their engagement with services.

The UK government should also investigate the failures of children’s services “to address the barriers and disadvantages Roma people experience during child protection cases”, said the 14 organisations, including the Roma Support Group, the Romani and Traveller Social Work Association and the European Roma Rights Centre.

The 2021 census recorded more than 103,200 Roma people living in the UK. They have a disproportionately high number of children in the care system.

In a statement, Leeds city council said: “The council has agreed to undertake an urgent review of the case and work with Romanian and Roma-led organisations, the churches, and the Honorary Consulate of Romania and other family representatives for the best interests of the family and wider Roma community.

“Local people are devastated by what happened, and we want to ensure there is no repeat of the distressing scenes we saw. Such actions will have a long-lasting and harmful impact on our community.”

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“The Romanian and Roma community have played a fantastic role in the community and have contributed much to the diversity and richness of the Harehills. We want this work to continue, and develop further work that makes Harehills an even better place to work and live.”

Pat Twiggs, assistant chief constable, promised a “relentless” investigation into those who brought about the disturbance.

Iustin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Harehills, was charged with violent disorder and arson reckless as to endanger life, West Yorkshire police said on Saturday, and was remanded to appear at Leeds agistrates court on Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, officers arrested another five people on suspicion of violent disorder. They remain in police custody.

Four people who were initially arrested have been bailed pending further investigation.

Police said a woman was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence before being released and given a conditional caution.

Police urged those involved in the unrest to hand themselves in.

On Saturday morning, Tracy Brabin , the mayor of West Yorkshire, thanked members of the community “who really stepped up to help us ease tensions and de-escalate the situation”.

“I also thank the home secretary for making it her priority to visit the city and meet with us yesterday.

“We are clear – Thursday night’s events do not define Harehills. And we will work tirelessly with the community, the police, and Leeds city council to move on and upwards from those unacceptable scenes of violence.”