Riot DVD on sale

DVDs available in the town show white rioters gathering at the Baltic Fleet pub, clashing with police in Yorkshire Street and looting in Oxford Road as well as aerial footage from the force helicopter.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has passed a copy of the footage to the police who hit out at the irresponsible' and disappointing' film.

But officers are unlikely to investigate as the footage was widely released to defendants in subsequent riots trials and is already in the public domain.

The DVD is being passed around or sold for a small fee. It is also available on a website for around £12.

Lord Tony Clarke, chair of the Burnley Task Force, which produced a report into the causes of the disturbances, said the discs glorified one of the darkest chapters East Lancashire's recent past.

He added: "I am appalled that anybody should wish to make capital, either financially or politically, out of what was a sad time for Burnley, a time many hoped could be put into the annals of history as we strive to find a better future for the town.

"The last couple of years have seen great strides forward and this sort of activity only gives comfort to racists and others determined to bring the town down."

Burnley erupted in three days of violence in June 2001 which saw gangs of both white and Asian youths roaming the town smashing shops, takeaways and cars.

The Duke of York pub, Duke Bar, became the focus for some of the worst of the disorder and was destroyed in an arson attack.

Sentences totalling more than 56 years were imposed on 26 white rioters, many of whom are shown on the footage, by a judge who told them they had left a "community scarred and battered" by their actions.

Groups of Asian rioters were also jailed.

Inspector Dave Croll from Burnley Police said: "We are aware that a DVD has been in circulation containing a compilation of CCTV footage, and evidence from the police helicopter and police evidence gathering teams.

"These clips and others were widely used to identify offenders and were used at subsequent criminal trials.

"As a consequence, the defendants and their lawyers were provided with advanced disclosure of this footage before the trials.

"Unfortunately this is how the DVD has been made and circulated.

"It is our view that whilst the DVD is less than helpful, there is little to be gained by an investigation since the footage is already in the public domain.

"Having said that we believe circulation of the DVD is highly irresponsible and extremely disappointing.

"A lot of very good work has been done by the local community and all the different agencies in Burnley since the disorder in terms of moving the town forward and whilst we wouldn't let the circulation of a DVD impact on that, it isn't particularly helpful."

The trouble in Burnley, which one police officer described as worse than Belfast, began outside the Baltic Fleet pub in Briercliffe Road on Sunday, June 24 where a group of about 20-30 white men were drinking and chanting racist abuse.

Two Asian taxi drivers were attacked before some of the group moved to the White Hart pub in Church Street where the windows of an Asian restaurant were smashed and a taxi business raided.

Police clashed with the group outside the Turf pub in Yorkshire Street after troublemakers began throwing bottles and stones at officers sent in to quell the trouble.

Violence worsened after some moved on to Oxford Road where two Asian shops were burgled and set on fire with the families trapped inside. The Duke of York pub was later set on fire and destroyed.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said: "We have moved on from the disturbances and are almost now five years down the line.

"The community has made such great progress since then to put what happened behind us.

"I don't know who is behind this or what their intentions are."

Hamid Qureshi, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "Somebody is doing wrong, maybe they are trying to develop hostilities.

"It doesn't have any positive purpose to serve. Its just unnecessary at a time when people are pulling together."

Former Mayor and Daneshouse with Stoneyholme councillor Rafique Malik, who helped lead appeals for calm after the riots, said: "It's difficult to comment without having seen the film but it seems to be in very sick taste that this is being marketed as entertainment."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: "The people who are doing this are sad. If they have got nothing better to do then I feel sorry for them.

"They are doing the town no favours and if they live in Burnley they should put their house up for sale and go and live somewhere else. They have sick minds. "