Yahoo News UK
Despite fewer far-right events taking place than planned on Wednesday, police said they are expecting further disruption.
Harriet Sinclair
·Deputy News Editor
Updated
Police are bracing for further unrest this evening and at the weekend, with up to 20 far-right gatherings and counter protests thought to be planned for tonight.
Those “intent on violence and destruction have not gone away”, warned Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Despite fewer far-right events taking place than planned on Wednesday, Stephens said police were “very focused on the weekend”.
He said: “There are many potential events still being advertised and circulated online. Those intent on violence and destruction have not gone away. They’ve certainly been deterred. They’ve certainly received a message from communities.
“But there’s no complacency at all in our mind that we need to be prepared for the days and particularly the weekend ahead. So the policing posture remains the same.”
He told reporters many police officers had sustained injuries including “fractures, lesions and severe bruising” amid the unrest, adding that rehabilitation and psychological support will be offered to officers because “for many, it was absolutely terrifying”.
His comments came after police carried out a series of dawn raids, arresting a number of people suspected of involvement in the violent riots that have swept through the UK in the past week.
The raids followed a night of peaceful protest by anti-racism marchers who turned out in the thousands to see off the threat of further riots from the far-right.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine said: "I want to thank our communities for coming together across the capital and for showing community spirit this evening."
Read all the latest on the riots from Yahoo News:
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Harriet Sinclair
Police 'focused on weekend' after day of calm
Those “intent on violence and destruction have not gone away”, a police chief has warned after fewer events than planned materialised on Wednesday.
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said that although there was a “turning point” on Wednesday night, “we are very focused on the weekend”.
Harriet Sinclair
Judge jailing men for violent disorder condemns 'twisted ideology' behind rioting
A senior judge has slammed the “twisted ideology” behind racist mobs of rioters who were egged on by “complete nonsense” being spread online about the murders of three young girls at a dance class in Southport.
Judge Andrew Menary KC, the Recorder of Liverpool, has now jailed five men who joined “baying mobs” in Southport and Liverpool during widespread disorder over the last week.
Read the full story from the Evening Standard.
Harriet Sinclair
Teen who stood on burning car pleads guilty to violent disorder
A teenager who stood on top of a burning car during riots in Sunderland has pleaded guilty to violent disorder, police said.
Riley Adey, 19, of Heworth Crescent, was arrested after Northumbria Police executed arrest warrants at homes in Washington on Wednesday, following intelligence which included footage of Adey during the disorder.
Adey and Reece Greenwood, 31, of The Gardens, appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on Thursday.
They both pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder and have been remanded in custody until their sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday.
Harriet Sinclair
Starmer says 'sole focus' is criminal justice response to rioters
Sir Keir Starmer said Wednesday night’s events turned out “much better than was expected”, after many planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.
Asked whether he should engage with the underlying tensions over the issue of immigration, the Prime Minister said: “The first priority is safety and security of our communities, and yes, last night was much better than was expected, but we are not going to give up on our efforts here.
See AlsoUK riots latest: Thousands take part in anti-racism protests; petrol bomb thrown at mosque in 'racially motivated' incidentScotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf to reject pact with Alex Salmond's Alba Party - despite it holding key to his fatePlane crashes in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, killing all 61 aboard, airline saysAt least 61 dead after passenger plane crashes in Brazil | CNN“That’s why it’s very important that I continue my discussions, co-ordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders, to make sure we’ve got the right officers in the right place, to keep pushing on the criminal justice response.
“I was very keen that we were able to demonstrate that if you’re involved in disorder, within days you will be in the criminal justice system and some people starting long terms of imprisonment.
“That needs to continue, and so that is my sole focus.”
Harriet Sinclair
More riot charges being authorised 'by the hour'
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “By the hour, further charges are being authorised, significant sentences of imprisonment are being passed and justice continues to be served after an extremely difficult period for the country.
“Our prosecutors are continuing to work swiftly and effectively in collaboration with the police.
“I am immensely proud of the way that the criminal justice system has responded so quickly and well, ensuring that the rule of law prevails and that justice is done and seen to be done.”
Harriet Sinclair
Sadiq Kahn urges Robert Jenrick to apologise for comments
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick should apologise for his comments that people chanting 'Allahu Akbar' should be jailed.
'I'm astonished someone aspiring to be prime minister, could show the ignorance he's shown'
Mayor of London @SadiqKhan reacts to Robert Jenrick's comments to Sky News suggesting those who shout "Allahu Akbar" should face arrest
Latest ➡️ https://t.co/OthNrCkFQH
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/wdyELs7L6Y
— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 8, 2024
Harriet Sinclair
Policing is reason why there were no riots on Wednesday, Starmer says
The prime minister said additional deployments of police officers and the quick sentencing of people involved in disorder were the reasons riots did not materialising on Wednesday night.
He told broadcasters on a visit to Solihull: “Last night, I think the fact we didn’t see the disorder that was feared is because we had police deployed in numbers in the right places, giving reassurance to communities.
“We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years.
“That sent a very powerful message.
“But I also think that the work that’s been done jointly to reassure our communities is becoming more effective.”
Harriet Sinclair
Police chiefs chair was 'nervous' about counter protests
The chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council has admitted to being “nervous” about the counter-protests that took place on Wednesday.
Speaking in a media briefing, Gavin Stephens said: “From a policing point of view, I must admit we were nervous about all of the counter-activity, if you want to call it that, purely because it adds to the scale of what we’re dealing with.
“I think what we saw last night was a loud and clear message from communities that they’d had enough, that there’s no place for hate, that there’s no place for violence.”
Stephens admitted a cost of damage to the communities affected by the disorder over the last nine days was “going to take a long, long time to recover”.
Harriet Sinclair
Starmer to chair third Cobra meeting in a week to prepare for further unrest
The prime minister will chair another Cobra meeting with law enforcement officials on Thursday afternoon to “reflect on last night” and plan for the coming days.
Sir Keir Starmer will hold the third high-level gathering of its kind in the last week, after threats of further disorder largely failed to materialise on Wednesday evening.
The meeting comes as jail terms have been handed out to some rioters, while others face charges relating to disorder across the country.
Read more from PA.
Harriet Sinclair
Riot arrests approaching 500
The total number of arrests made relating to violent disorder following the Southport killings currently stands at more than 480.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has also confirmed 149 charges have been brought so far, a figure expected to “continue to rise significantly”.
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the NPCC, said: “Officers and police staff are working flat out to progress investigations, acting on the mountain of intelligence and evidence gathered over the last week to secure convictions.”
He added: “We must not underestimate the physical and mental impact on officers facing the violent scenes from the past week.
"The criminal justice system is recognising the gravity of these offences to put those responsible behind bars.”
Harriet Sinclair
Tory leadership hopeful accuses Farage of ‘fuelling conspiracy theories’ over riots
Conservative leadership hopeful Mel Stride has blamed Nigel Farage for “fuelling conspiracy theories” in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
The shadow pensions secretary condemned social media posts by the Reform leader after the killings of three young girls and subsequent riots across the country on 29 July.
Farage speculated in an online video whether the “truth is being withheld” amid rumours falsely identifying the suspect as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK in a boat last year.
Read more from The Telegraph.
Harriet Sinclair
Man appears in court over attack on hotel housing asylum seekers
A 31-year-old man has appeared in court accused of being part of group who pushed a burning bin against a hotel housing asylum seekers during large-scale disorder in Rotherham.
Levi Fishlock, of Sheffield Road, Barnsley, denied violent disorder and arson with intent to endanger life when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A district judge heard he is accused of putting wood into a bin which was already burning and helping to push it against the building. He is also accused of throwing missiles at police.
Fishlock was remanded in custody and will next appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 20.
Harriet Sinclair
Woman named as first to share false Southport suspect rumour before riots says mistake ‘destroyed’ her
A British businesswoman accused of being the first person to share false information about the Southport killings of three girls has said the “mistake” has “destroyed” her.
Bonnie Spofforth is alleged to have fired off a tweet on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, wrongly claiming the stabbing suspect was an asylum seeker who came to the UK by boat hours after the three girls were killed.
The 55-year-old also shared an incorrect name for the boy accused of perpetrating attacks at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, in which three people died.
Read more from The Independent.
Harriet Sinclair
Sadiq Khan says 'additional police' will remain on streets amid riot fears
Londoners will continue to see extra police officers on the streets amid fears over further rioting.
'What are you going to do to reassure Londoners there will not be the scenes we saw outside Downing Street last week again?'
Mayor of London @SadiqKhan says people will continue to see 'additional police officers across the city'
Latest ➡️ https://t.co/OthNrCkFQH
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/5QmGrWE0b6
— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 8, 2024
Harriet Sinclair
Threats against migrants' lawyers are attack on democratic values, says Law Society
Threats against lawyers who have supported migrants “were an attack on our democratic values”, the Law Society of England and Wales has said.
Its president Nick Emmerson said: “We are continuing to support our members and have been contacting the solicitors’ firms and advice agencies on the target list to ensure they are safe following the planned riots yesterday.
“We thank the UK Government and the police for their efforts and support in recent days to keep solicitors and legal advice centres safe. The threats have been incredibly distressing for those targeted.
“We also commend those in the community who came out to peacefully defend their local area and businesses last night.”
He added: “These threats against our legal profession were an attack on our democratic values.
“Now is the time for our country and our leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law.
“They must ensure that all those who have committed crimes in recent days face swift justice.”
Harriet Sinclair
Labour councillor suspended over 'cut their throats' comment
A Labour councillor has been suspended from the party after footage emerged of him online in which he said the throats of rioters should be cut.
Ricky Jones, a Dartford Borough councillor, appeared in a video circulated online saying “we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all” at a counter-demonstration to recent riots.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.”
We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a member of Dartford Labour Group. The behaviour displayed in the video is completely unacceptable. The member has now been suspended from the Labour Party.
Dartford Labour will be making no further comment.— Dartford Labour (@Dartford_Labour) August 8, 2024
Harriet Sinclair
'This has got to stop,' say police in Northern ireland
Police chiefs in Northern Ireland have promised to bring the "full force of the law" down on rioters.
Belfast has been rocked by unrest following the Southport stabbings, with 16 arrests so far and more expected.
Speaking at Stormont Castle, Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PNSI), compared the disorder to the Troubles.
“I have met the leadership of the Muslim communities, but all our migrant communities, all our diverse communities feel under threat," he said.
"They feel a fear of the like I have not seen in over 40 years of policing.
"That’s not just here, that’s across the country. This has got to stop and we will stop it."
Harriet Sinclair
TV industry must take some responsibility for riots, says RADA chair
The TV industry must bear some responsibility for the race riots that erupted across the UK, the chair of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) has said.
Violent disorder and unrest spread across the UK this week with thousands of police officers deployed and hundreds of thugs arrested in scenes reminiscent of far-right movements of the 1970s and 80s.
While many commentators have pointed the finger at far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson, or the divisive remarks made by anti-immigration politicians such as Nigel Farage and Priti Patel, RADA chief Marcus Ryder OBE has pointed to a cause even closer to home – the popular culture we consume in our everyday lives.
Read more from The Independent.
Harriet Sinclair
Footage shows anti-racism protesters take to the streets
Footage shows thousands of people take to the streets for anti-racism protests.
UK authorities had braced themselves for more far-right riots on Wednesday, instead tens of thousands of anti-racism protesters filled the streets in cities across the country. pic.twitter.com/svr55vbuYF
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 8, 2024
Harriet Sinclair
Teen stole £4,000 worth of vapes during riots
A teenager stole around £4,000 worth of vapes during riots in Liverpool.
The 17-year-old from Walton, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court today, Thursday, 8 August.
The teen was arrested by Merseyside Police on 3 August and charged with using threatening and unlawful violence to cause a person at the scene to fear for his or her presence, and theft. He pleaded guilty to both charges.
He was caught on CCTV smashing the window of a convenience store, S&S News in Liverpool ONE, before stealing the vapes which had a value of around £4,000.
The sentencing was adjourned until 17 September to obtain a pre-sentence report. He was granted bail with conditions not to enter L1, L2 or L3 in the city centre until sentencing. His mum, who attended court this morning, was seen crying as the judge addressed the court.
