Race boss drew up risk list after 2001 riots

A list of areas at risk of race riots after the 2001 disturbances in northern England was drawn up by the government's race relations adviser at the time, it was revealed today.

Gurbux Singh, the then head of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), urged government ministers to "connect" with disengaged youth to defuse racial tension around the country.

Riots in Oldham, Bradford and Burnley in the summer of 2001 led to scores of injuries and millions of pounds of damage, and were blamed on the segregation of white and Asian residents living "parallel lives".