Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to call an emergency meeting with police leaders on Thursday after a night of troubles in three British cities resulted in dozens of arrests.
Far-right groups staged protests that led to cars being burned and crowds gathering outside Starmer’s official residence following a mass stabbing in a seaside town on Monday that left three young girls dead.
An official statement confirmed that Starmer will convene senior policing leaders in Downing Street to offer the government’s full support in light of multiple incidents of extreme violence and public disorder on the streets.
Protests on Wednesday night in London, Hartlepool, and Manchester resulted in over 100 arrests in London alone, where a far-right protest against the government’s response to the stabbing in Southport took place.
The Metropolitan police in London reported that the arrests were made for offenses such as violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions, with some officers sustaining minor injuries.
Tensions rose during the demonstration outside Starmer’s residence at 10 Downing Street, with scuffles, objects thrown at the police, and chants of “shame on you”.
One protester expressed to AFP that the girls’ deaths were the “last straw” and that they had had enough.
In Hartlepool, northeast England, demonstrators set police cars on fire and threw objects at officers, resulting in eight arrests. Police in Hartlepool reported that officers faced being targeted with missiles, glass bottles, and eggs, with some sustaining minor injuries.
The stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday shocked the nation, with eight other children also injured.
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The incident led to the spread of social media misinformation about the 17-year-old suspect’s identity and background, contributing to violent clashes in Southport and attacks on a local mosque on Tuesday night, which left 53 police officers injured.
The teenager was charged with murder and attempted murder on Wednesday and is set to appear in court in Liverpool on Thursday.
During the London protest on Wednesday, far-right chants included calls for reclaiming the country and stopping immigration.
Starmer, in his meeting with police leaders, will acknowledge the bravery of emergency service workers and emphasize the importance of their work in keeping the public safe.
He will also stress that while the right to protest must be protected, those who engage in violent and hateful acts under the guise of protest will face legal consequences.
The Labour government has committed to cracking down on crime and antisocial behavior, with the interior minister pledging to increase community police presence across the country.
Starmer will urge police leaders to use their powers to prevent senseless violence and ensure justice is served, according to the statement from the prime minister’s office.
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