Oxford law graduate found not guilty of role in riots

An Oxford law graduate accused of throwing bricks at police during last year’s riots in Hackney has been found not guilty by a jury at Wood Green Crown Court, who took just 30 minutes to acquit him.

Fahim Alam, who also has a Masters degree from the London School of Economics, was arrested in Hackney on the August 8th 2011. He spent 48 hours in police custody before appearing in court at 3am where he was refused bail and taken to prison during the early hours of the morning. He spent six weeks in prison and six months on an electronically monitored curfew, and was put through a gruelling trial lasting two days.

The whole case rested on the evidence of PC Ben Sparkes, a self-confessed “ex-military” man. PC Sparkes asserted that he kept his eyes on Alam for around half an hour, amidst scenes of violence and what was described as ‘chaos’. According to his own evidence, despite battling with rocks, bricks, fireworks and a vicious dog, PC Sparkes focused on Alam for the whole time. He claimed that the “Arabic military shemagh” that he was wearing made him stand out.

Alam says that PC Sparkes’ evidence was “riddled with inconsistencies together with highly racialised and politically loaded language” and that “this landmark case raises serious questions about the police and the criminal justice system”. He adamantly points out that his acquittal is an exception to most riot cases, and that there are hundreds, if not thousands, who don’t have the benefit of good legal representation, who are being victimised by the system into custodial sentences.

Alam was represented by Imran Khan, the lawyer for the Lawrence family, who has accused the prosecution of having “an itchy trigger finger” in relation to riot cases. Alam adds that his case has allowed this to be exposed, “It came across clearly in the trial that PC Ben Sparkes and Mr. Jackson [prosecuting] were zealous in their attempts to imprison me for a very long time, despite there being no evidence at all, except for a flimsy account of events by PC Sparkes”. Khan further points out that he has never had a jury who has made such a quick decision which demonstrates how weak the prosecution case was.

The Police and media labelled Alam as well as many others as being part of the riot ‘mob’. According to the London School of Economics and The Guardian published study, it is a clear fact that the police were "the biggest gang out there". During the riots, complaints against officers varied from claims of incivility during everyday interactions to the carrying out of unnecessary stop and searches. Some rioters also alleged they had been beaten up inside police vans and "stitched up" over crimes they did not commit.

After years of progress helped by campaigners, changes in legislation and the spirit of British fairness, we are back on the slide. Black deaths in police custody have risen sharply, levels of BME boys being 'Stopped and Searched' are at record levels and institutional racism arguably is more evident than ever.

Alam’s case sets an example that no one should fall under the pressure of the police or any other authority: everyone should stand strong and fight for their innocence and justice.

Since leaving prison and whilst on bail, Alam continued his job at the London Civic Forum as a researcher, and began to film an independent documentary on the riots involving voices from grassroots activists to professors at universities. This is due to be released on the anniversary of Mark Duggan’s tragic death which is said to have triggered the disturbances last summer.

Alam is delighted to have been unanimously cleared, but his story reminds that we should not forget other injustices that have occured and will continue to do so at the hands of the police and criminal justice system. He now plans to form a coalition of people who will organise and strategise around supporting other alleged rioters.

Arita Pecaka