MEASURES which helped defuse the potential threat of civil unrest following the murder of a Bury taxi driver could be used to avoid a repeat of this summer's Oldham riots.

And the multi-partnership approach adopted last November in the wake of Tariq Javed's killing is poised to be hailed as a strict example of good relations.

The chairman of the Oldham Independent Review Panel, which is investigating the unrest and violence, has visited Bury to meet with the town's Racial Equality Council officials.

The meeting was chaired by Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) chairman Dr Mohammed Salim and also taking part were Chief Superintendent Phil Hollowood, Bury police divisional commander and colleagues Supt Steve Wescott and Insp John Aspray.

Also in attendance were taxi drivers representatives, including Mr Javed's brother Nahim, along with Mr Khalid Hussain, BREC director and Mr Sam Cohen, honorary secretary.

Oldham Independent Review Panel chairman Mr David Ritchie said: "I decided to come to Bury after Dr Salim had told me the way the REC and other agencies had responded following the murder last year. "One of the main questions I wanted to address was over the fact that Oldham doesn't have an REC but a Racial Equality Partnership.

"I wanted to get people's views on the effectiveness of such arrangements."

The Panel, which is Home Office-funded, was commissioned by Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Police and the Police Authority to look into causes of the damaging Oldham riots.

During the two-hour meeting, Mr Ritchie was briefed about measures which were in place before and after Mr Javed's killing and which were instrumental in curbing unrest in Bury.

Mr Khalid Hussain said: "When the murder occurred, all eyes were on Bury and people were saying that riots would occur. We had many angry drivers from the town and elsewhere.

"But, thank God, by working together and due to good partnerships and communication, the expected riots didn't take place."

He added: "Secondly, we do have a group of leaders in the town who are sincere and who communicate effectively with the community and other agencies.

"Because we have this partnership working element in Bury, that played a major role in averting riots in the town."

Prior to the murder, Bury had staged a race conference, launched a soccer "kick out racism" scheme and had a strong partnership working involving the REC, police, Probation Service and other key agencies.

Mr Hussain continued: " Following the murder, all those contacts from the community suddenly came into place and the machinery began to function smoothly.

"Another factor was in terms of the taxi drivers, Mr Javed's family and the police who all worked together closely."

Comparing certain social differences between Bury and Oldham, the director cited Bury's good education record, housing and low unemployment as prime factors in the town boasting a good multi-cultural society.

"But we do have extremist minorities both in the mainstream community and ethnic minority communities," Mr Hussain pointed out.

"We must accept that fact and work together to ensure that criminals are brought to justice and not protected."

He said Monday's meeting re-inforced the fact that Bury was a good example of an integrated community and multi-cultural town which could communicate with the public.

The director concluded: "Mr Ritchie was impressed to learn that prior to last year's tragic death, there were examples of good practice in Bury.

"And these manifested themselves during the murder and the good work has carried on. We continue to work together for the greater achievement of the future."

Dr Salim said: "We wanted to show how Bury dealt with the murder in a peaceful fashion, compared to events in Oldham.

"We want Bury to be used as a role model because of our good relations and communication."

The Oldham Independent Review Panel will deliver its report into the riots before the end of the year.