A Safe Place to Be

Racism in Spitalfields reaches crisis point in the 70s as the National Front attack the local Bangladeshi community

This episode of Home from Home explores the history of racism in the East End, its roots and how it led to riots on Brick Lane in the late 70s when the National Front attacked the Bangladeshi community living there. Known as the Battle of Brick Lane, the attack was fuelled by the GLC’s ‘Ghetto Plan’ to house Bangladeshis in designated estates. Considered safer than areas such as Stepney and Mile End, Spitalfields became home to many Bangladeshis new to London. Living and working in very poor conditions they faced racism on a daily basis.