This summer's riots in northern England evoked memories of previous violent clashes in urban areas of Britain. The reasons behind Oldham's riots - unemployment, deprivation, racial tension and poor relations with the police - were also blamed for sparking the riots of the 1980s.
Brixton, south London, April 1981: Crowds of mainly black youths hurled petrol bombs at police and destroyed property, with more than 300 people injured.
Toxteth, Liverpool, July 1981: One man died and £9 million-worth of damage was caused during violence in this largely black area. Police used tear gas for the first time outside Northern Ireland. As in London, the clashes were blamed on tensions between the black community and the police, with claims of heavy-handed police tactics.
The Brixton riots prompted the Scarman Report, which recommended increased recruitment of black police officers and measures to address criminal and socio-economic problems of riot-stricken inner-city areas. The Conservative government responded by establishing an inner-city task force, on which it promised to spend £90 million nationwide. Measures to improve relations between police and ethnic minorities were also introduced.
Toxteth and Brixton, September-October 1985: Trouble flared again. The violence in Brixton followed the accidental shooting and injuring of a black woman by police.
Handsworth, Birmingham, September 1985: Violent rioting also broke out in this largely Afro-Caribbean and Asian area, leaving two people dead and dozens of buildings gutted by firebombs.
Tottenham, north London, 1985: Trouble on the once notorious Broadwater Farm estate resulted in PC Keith Blakelock being hacked to death.