Summary of the day …
The past two nights have been quieter but police said 6000 riot officers will be deployed over the coming weekend, as police wait to see if the worst of the violence and attempts to trigger it are over. Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs’ Council chair, said: “While the previous two nights have been a welcome break from the appalling scenes of the last week, and may have reached a turning point, we are by no means complacent. Stephens said arrests over the disorder would probably continue for months
Police said about 150 people had been charged, with more to come, and said further cases should be expected against “rioters and those spreading online hate”. Police investigating the far right-led riots say they have made 595 arrests for alleged offences including violent disorder, theft and antisocial behaviour
Keir Starmer has said the police are to remain on “high alert”. The prime minister said he believed the swift processing of rioters in the courts had a deterring effect, telling broadcasters: “I’m absolutely convinced that having the police officers in place these last few days, and the swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts have had a real impact. But we have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure”
The prime minister has said his government needs to “look more broadly at social media after this disorder” in a warning to social media companies. Questioned on Sadiq Khan’s comments that the Online Safety Act was not fit for purpose, Starmer said “I do agree that we’re going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder”
Scotland’s first minister has told social media companies “immediate action” must be taken to crack down on disinformation and racism. John Swinney said police chiefs in Scotland have raised concern at the length of time it takes for technology companies to remove “problematic” posts
Police in Northern Ireland are bracing for potential fresh clashes in Belfast on Friday when rival groups are due to gather outside the city hall. A police spokesperson promised a “significant” security operation in Belfast on Friday. An anti-racism rally is scheduled at 4.30pm and an anti-immigrant one is expected at 5pm, presenting another challenge for a force over-stretched by five consecutive nights of disorder
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said he does not think it is helpful for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful protests while police forces have been stretched to cope with several days of violent far-right disorder
A man has been jailed for 20 months in Leeds for publishing Facebook posts encouraging people to attack a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers in the first case of its kind
Former Labour councillor Ricky Jones has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow, the CPS said
Some rioters jailed over recent disorder could be released from prison early under a scheme to tackle overcrowding, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. Last month, ministers announced that they were changing the law to allow some criminals to leave prison early because of a lack of jail space
That is it from me, Martin Belam, today. I will be back with you next week.
The Ministry of Justice has issued new figures on those appearing before courts in the wake of far-right led violence across England and Northern Irealnd. In a message posted to social media, the department claimed that 154 people had been in court, 118 had been remanded in detention, and 56 people have been sentenced or are awaiting sentence.
There is no place for violent disorder in our country.
— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) August 9, 2024
Hundreds of people have faced the consequences for their actions already.
More will follow. pic.twitter.com/AeJeu9e2Xc
