Policing riots cost £31.7m and foreign bots ‘turbo-charged’ misinformation, says counter-terrorism chief

Policing this summer’s unrest cost £31.7m, chiefs have revealed. Pictured, officers clashing with rioters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham - (PA Wire)

Policing this summer’s riots cost forces £31.7million and foreign bots “turbo-charged” the spread of misinformation which fuelled the unrest, the UK’s counter-terrorism police chief has revealed.

False information about the identity of the alleged Southport attacker received 27 million impressions on X, formerly Twitter, in the first day after the mass stabbing of children at a Taylor-Swift themed dance class.