UK riots latest: PM expecting 'substantive sentencing' of rioters 'before end of week' - as police prepare for 'big day' of protests (2024)

We've just heard from the prime minister after he chaired another emergency COBRA meeting this evening.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was to "coordinate our response" to the disorder between government, police, and other agencies.

With hundreds of people having been arrested so far, and some having faced charges in court, he said he was expecting "substantive sentencing before the end of this week".

"That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder."

In total, more than 400 people have been arrested and 100 have been charged, he said.

Asked if he thought the unrest could escalate tomorrow, he said the government's first duty was to ensure that communities were safe.

"Anybody involving themselves in this disorder is going to feel the full force of the law," he added.

"The message has got to go to those who are involving themselves in this disorder, which is, you're wrong, you shouldn't be doing it and you will feel the full force of the law."

He said the government was "doing everything" it could to ensure people were safe, with support and police officers in vulnerable areas.

Asked about the comments made by Elon Musk in recent days, including that civil war was "inevitable" in the UK, the prime minister said he was focused on making sure communities were safe.

"Our first duty has to be to our community, to keep them safe. That is my sole focus," he added.

Violent riots have been taking place across the country for a week now - and more are reportedly planned for tomorrow night.

They began in Southport last Tuesday in the wake of an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class that killed three children and injured eight others.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested but, due to his age, Merseyside Police were unable to identify him.

False claims circulated online about him, including that he was an asylum seeker.

The following day, protests began. Large groups of people gathered outside a mosque in Southport, and disorder broke out.

Since then, riots have taken place in several areas of the country including in London, Liverpool, Sunderland, Hull and Bristol.

Here's how a week of unrest unfolded...

This evening's emergency COBRA meeting about the riots has ended in the past few minutes.

It was the second such gathering in as many days, again chaired by the prime minister as the government looks to get a grip on the crisis.

Ministers, police chiefs and other personnel involved have started departing and we should be getting an update on what was discussed a little later this evening.

People who are racist to NHS staff "can and should" be turned away from care, the health secretary has said.

Wes Streeting condemned the "mindless thuggery" of rioters after two Filipino nurses were attacked on Friday evening as they travelled to work to provide emergency cover after riots erupted in Sunderland.

Mr Streeting said the people behind the attack had "brought enormous shame on our country".

"People who are abusing NHS staff can be turned away, and should be turned away, if that is the way that they are treating our staff," he said.

"I will not tolerate, under any circ*mstances, NHS or social care staff in any health or care setting being subjected to intimidation, harassment or racist abuse."

The Royal College of Nursing said it had updated its guidance on when and how members can refuse to treat a patient in their care after Mr Streeting's remarks.

"This is the most difficult decision, and every situation and patient interaction is unique," Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the RCN, said.

"I am demanding that government ensures anybody targeting our members pays a very heavy price. Hearing that nurses going to work in Sunderland came under attack is unforgivable.

"Migrant nursing staff are precious members of our communities, hardwired into the very DNA of our health and care services. Our international colleagues are welcome, valued and owed a debt of gratitude."

More than half of Britons think the Tory governments of the past 14 years bear some responsibility for the riots.

Polling by YouGov suggests 24% of people think the 2010-2024 administrations hold a "great deal of responsibility" for the unrest, and 31% reckon they hold "a fair amount".

That compares to 17% and 19% respectively for the Labour government and 16% and 17% for Sir Keir Starmer - despite Elon Musk's best efforts to attack the prime minister on social media.

Musk, who owns X, won't be pleased to know that 86% of Britons think social media has been a driving force behind the violence, beaten only by those actually taking part at 88%.

The other main contributors to the disorder, according to the public, are far right groups, news media, recent immigration policy, and English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

Just under half of people think Reform leader Nigel Farage bears some responsibility for what's happened, after he questioned - baselessly - whether police were hiding information about the Southport knife attack from the public.

The home secretary has told police any extra cash needed to deal with the riots will be supported by the government.

Yvette Cooper said the police have her "unwavering commitment" to do what's necessary to stop the "appalling displays of violence" we've seen.

Additional costs, including overtime pay for officers, will come via an existing Home Office grant scheme - similar to how forces adapted to the 2011 riots, when more personnel had to be deployed.

Forces have been told there are thousands of specially trained riot officers on standby to be deployed wherever they are needed across the country.

A 15-year-old boy arrived at court with his mum to admit throwing a paving slab at a member of the public during riots in Liverpool on Saturday.

He was among dozens of people appearing today, accused of offences related to UK-wide riots over the past week.

The suspects have been appearing in cities including Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol and Leeds.

The hearings are taking place aftera first group appeared in courton Monday.

Meanwhile, a man from Leeds who posted Facebook messages about attacking a hotel where asylum seekers were staying has been convicted of stirring up racial hatred.

It's the first conviction for online posts in relation to the riots.

Read more here.

People have been urged not to attend a protest in West Bridgford tomorrow after an address posted online was revealed to belong to an elderly person.

An address for East Midlands Immigration Services was shared on social media as a potential location for the protest, but it has "no links to the business", Nottinghamshire Police said.

The force said on X: "The location has no links to the business advertised on the internet. Officers have visited the address and it is home to an elderly person with vulnerabilities.

"It has no links whatsoever to any immigration business.

"We would strongly advise that those wishing to attend any protest in this location refrain from doing so as this is an elderly person's home address. Thank you."

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the news that children injured in the Southport attack last week have been discharged from hospital.

He thanked staff at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool in a post on X and sent a message to the families of the three girls killed in the stabbing attack:

Police in Liverpool have been given extra powers until tomorrow at 4am.

The Section 60 order gives officers more power to stop and search suspects.

"The extension of this Section 60 order is on the back of the mindless disorder and violence we have witnessed in Liverpool," Inspector Jack Woodward said.

"It is to prevent violence and disorder and keep the public safe, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to our officers."