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Hermann Djoumessi, a French film-maker, grew up in a Parisian suburb. Disconnected from the wealth and jobs of central Paris, and struggling against a volatile relationship with the authorities and the police, a cauldron of social problems bubbled throughout his youth.

Tower Hamlets has many of the same social problems as some Paris suburbs. Hermann now lives in East London, working with young people to help them express the problems they face through film-making – problems such as drug abuse, crime and police harassment.

Residents of Tower Hamlets cited crime as one of their most significant concerns in a survey carried out by the council in 2006.

Paris, a year ago

In November 2005 two young men died in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, and a wave of violence spread through the outskirts of Paris. Thousands of cars were torched and police officers were attacked.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy sparked even greater enmity after declaring that "scum" were behind the urban violence. His comments demonstrated the divide that existed between the rich and poor parts of Paris.

Could the same ever happen in East London’s deprived boroughs?

Police officers reach out

Swanlea Secondary School, near Weaver’s Fields in Bethnal Green has its own police officer, PC Peter Green, on site to handle incidents among pupils and to improve relations between young people and the police.

“Riots like Paris would never happen here. We usually get on well with the police,” says Peter Hamilton, a 15-year-old student. Meanwhile another student, Afzal Miah, says he has recently been stopped and searched by a police officer.

A tale of two cities

Newham and Tower Hamlets reporter Angela Saini asked Hermann Djoumessi and some pupils from Swanlea School in Bethnal Green how they feel about police relations and their social situation, one year since the Paris riots. To see her report click on the link to the right.