UK - London - Poll Tax riots

Several metres above the ground, a lone protester hangs on to a street light pole in London's Trafalgar Square at the height of the famous Poll Tax Riot on 31st March 1990 as flames erupt from a building site on The Strand. Angry crowds, demonstrating against Margaret Thatcher's local authority tax, stormed the Whitehall area and then London's West End, setting fire to a construction site and cars, looting stores up Charing Cross Road and St Martin's Lane. The anti-poll tax rally in central London erupted into the worst riots seen in the city for a century. Forty-five police officers were among the 113 people injured as well as 20 police horses. 340 people were arrested.

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Filename: RB-0091.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 3072x2021 / 588.1KB; http://www.bakerpictures.com; Britain British Conservative England English Margaret Thatcher Photographer Poll Tax Prime Minister Richard Baker Strand Thatcherism Trafalgar Square UK above alone anger anti arrest chaos community charge criminal danger democracy demonstrate destruction disorder emotion event extreme fire flames government hazard hide historic history illegal injured injustice law and order legal local authority mob officers people power perspective police protest provocation rally rebellion riot scale taxation turmoil unfair upright urban vandalism vertical violence youth poll tax
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Several metres above the ground, a lone protester hangs on to a street light pole in London's Trafalgar Square at the height of the famous Poll Tax Riot on 31st March 1990 as flames erupt from a building site on The Strand. Angry crowds, demonstrating against Margaret Thatcher's local authority tax, stormed the Whitehall area and then London's West End, setting fire to a construction site and cars, looting stores up Charing Cross Road and St Martin's Lane. The anti-poll tax rally in central London erupted into the worst riots seen in the city for a century. Forty-five police officers were among the 113 people injured as well as 20 police horses. 340 people were arrested.