Liverpool on Monday night, chaired by Archbishop Derek Worlock, aimed at settling differences between community leaders and the police.
Police held back members of organisations which had boycotted the meeting, and earlier jeered at the archbishop and others attending the meeting.
On Tuesday, Archbishop Worlock told the Catholic Herald there had been about 40-50 representatives of local residents at the meeting, which was held in the Moot Room at Liverpool University. He said there were 10 or I I Asians and West Indians present.
In spite of disagreements, there had been some positive suggestions in regard to community policing. said the archbishop. The police had undertaken to study these suggestions to see what could be done. They would report hack within three months, or earlier it possible.
"People generally felt the meeting was worthwhile and would like to have another" said the archbishop. On the other hand, what had happened outside had affected people's thoughts and reactions.
Later the same day, Archbishop Worlock spoke to Robin Day on the Radio 4 programme. The World at One He enlarged on his report of the meeting, saying there was much criticism of the police, including allegations of harrassinent.
He added that long-standing attitudes to the police were a major problem, and said there had been lots of criticism of the language used by the police.
The causes of the riots were complex. said. the archbishop. "Policing is certainly one of them. But ,we've got to look at the whole picture of unemployment. and had housing. There is a great deal of deprivation.