In early September 2015, the Federal Court proceedings commenced for the first-ever class action filed against the Queensland Police. If it is won, Wotton v. State of Queensland will be the only case in Australian history in which a community has successfully sued the Queensland Police on the grounds of racial discrimination.

No mattress or bedding was provided for days after the riot. There were windows broken everywhere so it was very cold. Most prisoners inside lost their property as it was destroyed or burned by rioting men. My partner does not know if his property was destroyed or not as he has not been allowed back to his cell. He is currently ‘locked down’ in a room designed for two men with up to six other men in it.

Hari Kunzru is the author of the novels Gods without Men and The Impressionist. He lives in Hackney, east London. He has kindly given permission to republish his Guardian article on the recent riots. There’s nothing like fear and hatred to sharpen the senses. The riots have shown Britain some unpalatable truths about itself, making […]