We need to ask why: Cousin of Mark Duggan speaks out 10 years after riots
As part of Black History Month, ITV News Central has been hearing from the cousin of Mark Duggan, whose death by police triggered one of the largest riots in English history.
Mark Duggan's cousin, Marsha Farmer, who is from Nottingham, has told ITV Central the five days of unrest in the summer of 2011 was traumatic for the family and exposed deep wounds within society.She said lessons have yet to be learned as to why there was such uproar from young people living in inner cities.
The shooting of Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham sparked outrage, violence and riots which eventually spread to almost every major city in England.Two days after the 29-year-old's death, members of his family were still waiting for answers.
"We didn't know much about what had happened to Mark. We were watching it unfold through the media like everyone else"
His cousin, Marsha said: "The first reports that came out about Mark's death, was that Mark had shot at a police officer.
"So for us as a family, we're stunned, we're shocked because we're like 'that's not something Mark's going to do'."
"Nobody came to my uncle's house officially to say what had happened to Mark."
She added: "This is why the following day, my family peacefully went down to Tottenham police station to find out what had happened."
Ms Farmer said: "They were treated with contempt, and that's when it all just kicked off."
Peaceful protests in Tottenham soon turned to full-scale riots, and within days had spread as far north as Birmingham and Nottingham.
Ms Farmer admits she was disturbed by the amount of violence and looting which erupted during the five nights of protest.
"Smashing up people's businesses and the looting and all of that stuff was not right and for us, Mark's family, that was like more pain on top of the fact we're trying to deal with Mark being shot and killed," she said.
"How about we start talking about the root cause? Why are these young people rioting?"
Marsha said it is important we understand what caused so many people to start rioting after Mark Duggan's death.
"I often say to people 'we can talk about the riots', well look at these young people they're looting, they're thugs - they're this they're that."
"How about we start thinking about the roots, why are these young people doing this? If we want to help, those are the questions we need to be tackling and finding solutions for."