"In September 1985 the days were warm and sunny, thousands of dancing revellers, many in brightly coloured costumes, were pouring into the streets of Handsworth, an area of Birmingham well known for its rich and vibrant cultural mix. At approximately 5pm on Monday 9 September an African Caribbean man was arrested near the Acapulco Cafe, Lozells Road, for a traffic offence. Very soon a crowd of African Caribbean, Asian and British people asked the police to let the man go; the police refused and the situation escalated into a riot." What became known as the Handsworth Riots lasted two days: fifty shops were burnt or looted, thirty-five people were injured, two lost their lives.