UK will feel impact of riots for years, justice secretary says

The Justice Secretary has said the justice system will feel a long-term fallout from the days of rioting and violent disorder.

Shabana Mahmood said the riots will set back the new Labour government’s efforts to fix the justice system, which was already facing a massive backlog of court cases and dwindling space in prisons.

Soon after being elected in July, the government announced plans to release some inmates early to free up prison space.

The Ministry of Justice has risen to the challenge of ‘bringing rapid charges against these thugs and hooligans’, including by bringing forward more than 500 prison places to make sure there is space for those the courts are sending to custody, Mahmood said.

But she said this was made more difficult by the situation her government inherited from the Conservatives.

She added: ‘The impact of these days of disorder will be felt for months and years to come. They make the job of rebuilding the justice system harder.

‘They also offer a sobering reminder of how much worse things might have been had this government not acted fast, a few weeks ago, to address the crisis in our criminal justice system before it was too late.’

Two men have been charged with violent disorder following a demo outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

Police were called to the hotel in Aldershot on July 31 and say the majority of people taking part acted in a peaceful manner.

However some disorder was reported and one Hampshire Police officer suffered a minor injury.

Earlier today. Jamie Lee Turvey, 34, of Montgomery Road, Farnborough, and Alby Brannan, 18, of Winchester Road, Ash, were charged with violent disorder.

They will appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 13.

Five other men who were charged with violent disorder on Friday will also appear in court on the same day: Joe Howell, 19, of Bareham Drive, Ash; Kieron Marney, 25, of Fairview Road, Ash; Perrie Fisher, 28, of Hillside Road, Farnham; Cameron Bowling, 40, of Broadhurst, Farnborough; and Clive Patfield, 60, of The Chantrys, Farnham.

Howell was also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker.

The prime minister has cancelled his holiday plans to focus on the response to widespread rioting.

Starmer was set to head on a break in Europe with his family this weekend – but instead he’ll be working from Number 10 and Chequers.

On Friday, Sir Keir reiterated that police should remain on ‘high alert’ this weekend, in spite of several far-right demonstrations failing to materialise as planned.

He said a ramped-up police response after days of disorder and swiftly moving cases through the courts had had an impact, but his message was to stay on ‘high alert’ to ‘make sure our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure’.

More people appeared in court on Saturday over the recent protests as anti-racism demonstrators gathered in cities including Belfast and Edinburgh.

Earlier today we reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a mosque in Northern Ireland in the early hours of the morning.

Police described the attack on the mosque in Newtownards as racially motivated.

Graffiti was also sprayed on the mosque’s walls and front door – but thankfully the petrol bomb failed to ignite.

Chief Inspector Hutchinson said: ‘This is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime, and I want to send a strong message to those who carried this out, that this type of activity will not be tolerated and any reports of hate crime are taken very seriously.

‘I am appealing to anyone with any information or footage that could assist with enquiries to come forward and help to identify those responsible and put them before the courts.’

Several protests across Belfast passed off without incident on Friday, however the force is now investigating a number of overnight reports to damage to property and vehicles.

Cars were set alight in Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens in Belfast and police said both incidents are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.

The rear door of a restaurant on Ormeau Road was also kicked with racial slurs shouted at the workers inside.

Police were forced to intervene after a protester at the anti-racism demonstration in London clashed with a GB News cameraman.

Charlie Peters, a journalist at the scene, said the man was wearing a t-shirt with ‘choose love’ written on it and had been chanting ‘GB News off our streets’.

He claims the man lunged to try and hit the camera, before hitting the hand of another person who tried to get between him and the camera.

Three police officers then led the man away.

On X, Charlie said: ‘We’ll broadcast wherever and whenever we want, thanks very much.’

The Met has shared a statement responding to the incident below.

Anti-racist organisers and campaigners say the atmosphere has changed at their counter-protests now far-right agitators are regularly being significantly outnumbered.

Samira Ali, a member of Stand Up To Racism who spoke at the rally in Whitehall this afternoon said: ‘We feel like we have turned the tide. It’s a testament to our mobilisation that they failed to come out.

‘They would not have been stopped if it was not for our mobilisation.

‘We were protesting outside of Reform UK, against the likes of Nigel Farage and his dangerous rhetoric.

‘The constant rhetoric about ‘stop the boats’, about immigration being a problem, about refugees and Muslims being to blame in society.

‘This is all rhetoric that’s been replicated on the far-right riots. That’s created the toxic atmosphere in which the far right have been able to build.

‘That’s why we brought the protest to his doorstep today, because we believe he has questions to answer for.

‘We want this movement to reach into every area, every workplace, every community. The far right is on the back foot now, but we’re going to keep pushing.’

Gary McFarlan added: ‘A few days ago, the atmosphere was very different.

‘Lots of people were very scared, worried about coming out on to the streets, thinking “Will I get a half-brick in my head? Will I get kicked in the face by a Nazi?”.

‘We turned it around this week.’

The Met Police say no arrests were made at the protest, although one man was briefly removed from the march by officers.

Around 2,500 people have marched from Reform UK’s offices in Victoria, central London, to gather on Whitehall in support of refugees.

The march, organised by Stand Up To Racism, saw protesters chant ‘refugees are welcome here’ after speeches given outside the political party’s HQ.

They then gathered in Trafalgar Square to hear speeches. Speakers condemned X boss Elon Musk, and accused Reform UK MP Nigel Farage of ‘spreading racism’.

One speaker said: ‘After being outnumbered, we turned it around this week.’

Another Section 34 dispersal order has been put in place in Liverpool city centre, Everton, Kensington, Vauxhall and Kirkdale.

It came into effect at 4pm and will stay in place until just before 4pm on Monday.

Here’s a map of the area covered by the order:

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Chris Taylor said: ‘This order will give officers on the ground the ability to direct people suspected of being involved in or planning criminality to leave the designated area for a period of 48 hours, and to arrest them if they return.

‘It is in addition to a Section 60 issued earlier which gave officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals across Liverpool city centre and is also designed to protect the community from disorder.

‘Both orders are extra tools at our disposal to help keep the public safe, and highly visible police patrols will enforce them in the next 48 hours

‘If you have information about people intent on committing acts of anti-social behaviour or criminality, let us know and we will take action.

‘We will continue to deploy such tactics where we believe they can help our efforts to keep people safe.’

Three people have pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Manvers, Rotherham, on Sunday August 4, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) has said.

Kaine Hicks, 22, of Wombwell Road, Platts Common; Drew Jarvis, 19, of no fixed address; and a 17-year-old boy admitted the offence at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, the force said.

A SYP spokesperson said Hicks and Jarvis were remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, while the teenager will be sentenced at the same court on August 20.

Anti-racism protesters have arrived at Reform UK’s London offices to send a message to Nigel Farage.

Farage has been accused of sparking much of the hate online which led to riots – he also questioned if police were withholding information on the identity of the attacker in Southport. Farage has denied any wrongdoing.

Outside of the party’s offices, anti-racism protesters were seen chanting and holding signs.

Police will increase in South Yorkshire this weekend, as officers have been made aware of ‘rumoured events’.

In a statement, they said: ‘We have plans in place to respond to any planned or spontaneous disorder and would like to reassure our communities that public safety is our priority.

‘We are aware of a number of reports and rumoured events circulating on social media and within communities, we are monitoring the situation and will respond effectively.’

A County Down mosque was targeted in an attempted arson attack in Northern Ireland in what police are considering a hate crime.

The mosque in Newtownards was targeted at 1am when a petrol bomb was thrown, but didn’t ignite. Racist graffiti was scribbled on the building, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

Chief Inspector Hutchinson said: ‘This is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime and I want to send a strong message to those who carried this out, that this type of activity will not be tolerated and any reports of hate crime are taken very seriously.’

The parents of little Bebe King have spoken out for the first time since their daughter was killed in Southport.

They wrote: ‘On Monday, the 29th of July, our world was shattered by the loss of our precious daughter, Bebe. Along with two other beautiful souls, Elsie and Alice, she was taken from us in an unimaginable act of violence that has left our hearts broken beyond repair. Our beloved Bebe, only six years old, was full of joy, light, and love, and she will always remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind, and spirited girl we adore.

‘The outpouring of love and support from our community and beyond has been a source of incredible comfort during this unimaginably difficult time. From the pink lights illuminating Sefton and Liverpool, to the pink bows, flowers, balloons, cards, and candles left in her memory, we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion shown to our family. The response from Southport, the whole of Liverpool, and even further afield has deeply touched our hearts, and we are so grateful to everyone who has reached out to us.

‘We want to acknowledge our older daughter, Genie, who witnessed the attack and managed to escape. She has shown such incredible strength and courage, and we are so proud of her. Her resilience is a testament to the love and bond she shared with her little sister, and we will continue to support her as we navigate this painful journey together as a family.

‘Our thoughts are also with everyone else involved in this tragedy and all those who were injured. We hope that they find strength and healing in the days ahead. To the children who witnessed this terrible event, we send our love and hope that they too can begin to heal, surrounded by the care and support of those who love them.

‘To the emergency services, who acted with such care and professionalism on that terrible day: thank you. Your support has continued as you have looked after our family with compassion and dedication, and we will forever be grateful for the way you have helped us through this harrowing time.

‘To our community, friends, and strangers who have shown us such love: thank you. Your messages, your tributes, and your presence have meant the world to us and have helped us find some solace in our grief. We are also thinking of Elsie and Alice’s families, who are sharing in this unimaginable loss, and we hold them close in our hearts.

‘Our hearts are broken, but we find some comfort in knowing that Bebe was so deeply loved by all who knew her. She will forever be our shimmering star, and we will carry her with us in everything we do.

‘With love and gratitude, Lauren, Ben, and Genie.’

Thousands are expected to take to the streets yet again in a display of unity against racism as other far-right demonstrations are planned.

The locations include:

• London
• Edinburgh 
• Cardiff
• Belfast 
• Manchester 
• Birmingham 
• Liverpool
• Nottingham