KEIR Starmer has told police to remain on high alert following days of far-right riots and disorder in England and Northern Ireland.
At least a dozen people were jailed on Thursday for their part in the riots of the past 10 days, with more expected to be sent to prison on Friday, including some on live television.
The Prime Minister addressed his third emergency Cobra meeting since the first riot in Southport on July 30 and after many planned protests failed to materialise on Wednesday night.
Starmer told the meeting that police need to remain on “high alert,” the PA news agency understands.
He is understood to have said there was no doubt that levels of policing in the right places and swift justice over the past week, including sentencing, have acted as a deterrent to further rioting.
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Earlier in the day he told reporters that Wednesday night’s events turned out “much better than was expected” and “anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law”.
“It’s important I repeat that because we need to make sure that in the coming days we can give the necessary reassurance to our communities, many of whom – I’ve been talking to some this morning – are very anxious about the situation.”
His comments came as the final child injured in the Southport stabbings which sparked the riots was discharged from hospital on Thursday and will continue her recovery at home, Merseyside Police said.
Her family said they were “deeply saddened by the recent disorder,” including attacks on police, and praised the officers who were first on the scene “when the horrific events unfolded” on July 29.
It has been an “incredibly difficult time for our nation,” they said.
More of those arrested in the violent disorder of the past week will appear in court on Friday and about 150 charges have been brought over the unrest.
Defendants will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for racially aggravated harassment and publishing written material intended to stir up religious hatred.
Cases will also be heard at Crown Courts around the country, including Newcastle, Teesside, Liverpool, Sheffield and Inner London.
The arrest figure is expected to “continue to rise significantly,” the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.
By Thursday afternoon the total number of arrests stood at 483, it added.
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