1985 Handsworth riots 1500 police officers drafted into the area, about 45 shops looted and burnt, and a trail of damage running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. As well as racial tension, unemployment was seen as a major factor in the riots; by the time of the riots, fewer than 5% of the black population to have left school that summer had found employment. The riots were the first of a series of similar riots across the country during the autumn of 1985, notably the Broadwater Farm riot in London which also resulted in a fatality (the murder of policeman Keith Blakelock).
Today on the Farm its name, the series was produced not by NBC News but by Crossroads TV Productions based in Springfield, Missouri. Today on the Farm Today on the Farm was an American television program broadcast on NBC-TV from October 1, 1960–December 26, 1961. Hosted by country musician Eddy Arnold, the weekly series included a variety of features such as agricultural and farm news with Alex Dreier, Mal Hansen as a roving reporter, Carmelita Pope with women's features, and weather with Joe Slattery, who also served as announcer. Long-range weather forecasts were supplied by The Krick Organization. Regular performers included Arnold (backed by