The Riot Report

When Black neighborhoods in scores of cities erupted in violence during the summer of 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders – informally known as the Kerner Commission – to answer three questions: What happened? Why did it happen? And what could be done to prevent it from happening again? The bi-partisan commission's final report, issued in March 1968, would offer a shockingly unvarnished assessment of American race relations – a verdict so politically explosive that Johnson not only refused to acknowledge it publicly, but even to thank the commissioners for their service.

When Black neighborhoods in scores of cities erupted in violence during the summer of 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders – informally known as the Kerner Commission – to answer three questions: What happened? Why did it happen? And what could be done to prevent it from happening again? The bi-partisan commission's final report, issued in March 1968, would offer a shockingly unvarnished assessment of American race relations – a verdict so politically explosive that Johnson not only refused to acknowledge it publicly, but even to thank the commissioners for their service.

“The government doesn't have a grip on the system and there's a cost in blood being paid” – Nick Hardwick, former Chief Inspector of Prisons. “The increase in the incidence of riots is a clear indication that prisons are in a state of chaos” – Phil Wheatley – former Director General of HM Prison Service. This new documentary in the Exposure current affairs strand goes behind bars to show the inside story of the prison system using dramatic footage filmed in jails by inmates. In December 2016, HMP Birmingham became the scene of Britain’s worst prison riot for 25 years as staff lost control of four wings and up to 600 prisoners were let out of their cells.