Sir Mark Rowley said the “full force of the law” awaits those committing offences at riots
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has warned rioters “we will come after you” as three men have been jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for their parts in violent disorder.
Police are now understood to be aware of more than 100 planned events on Wednesday, and more than 30 counter protests.
Among those sentenced today was 58-year-old Derek Drummond, who was handed three years in prison after he admitted violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker in Southport on July 30.
Liam Riley, 40, was also sentenced to 20 months in prison for violent disorder and racially aggravated behaviour in Liverpool on August 3.
Declan Geiran, 29, was handed 30 months of jail time after pleading guilty to violent disorder on the same date.
All three men were due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court later this month but their cases were fast-tracked to today.
The sentences come, as police forces across the UK anticipate further disorder on Wednesday, with officers monitoring reports of possible gatherings and threats against immigration law specialists.
When asked about the threat being levied towards immigration specialists, Rowley said: “It is completely unacceptable, regardless of your political views, to intimidate any sector of lawful activity, and we will not let immigration asylum system be intimidated.”
It comes as more than 400 people have been arrested so far for involvement in riots and disorder following a knife attack on a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, which left three children dead.
Speaking of the spread of misinformation and incitement of hatred on social media platforms, Rowley said so-called “keyboard warriors” are not safe from the law.
He said: “Whether you’re in this country, committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you.
“We’ll throw the full force of the law at offenders – whether that’s charging people with assault violent disorder, riot, and if terrorism offences are appropriate I know the Director of Public Prosecutions has said he’s prepared to consider that.”
Rowley said police forces had changed their tactics in recent days, marshalling more officers and brigading them at strategic locations around the country.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is expecting “substantive sentencing” for those taking part in riots across the UK.
Speaking from Downing Street on Tuesday evening after chairing his second emergency Cobra meeting in as many days, the prime minister praised the “robust and swift response” of the criminal justice system in dealing with rioters.
He said: “Over 400 people now have been arrested, 100 have been charged – some in relation to online activity – and a number of them are already in court.
“I’m now 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.”
Police remain braced for disturbances, despite a relatively quiet night on Tuesday after a week of violent unrest.
Although officers in Liverpool and Durham issued dispersal orders to head off potential unrest, Tuesday night was free of the violent scenes that have played out across Britain since the initial disturbances in Southport a week earlier.
A list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies has been shared in chat groups as possible targets for gatherings, with the message inviting people to “mask up” if they attend.
Some have either closed or accepted offers of additional police protection.
Former immigration minister and Conservative party leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said debates about immigration and the rioting are separate issues.
He told Sky News: “There is a separate debate to be had around integration and immigration in this country.
“But I think that is for another day, because we mustn’t allow the legitimate concerns of millions of people on those issues to be tarred by the brush of these criminals, these thugs, these yobs, these morons, frankly, who are out on the streets, causing harm, hurting people, smashing up shops.”
Rioting began in Southport on Tuesday last week after three girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town the previous day.
On Thursday, the prime minister warned social media companies after misinformation spread online about the identity of the 17-year-old suspect, Axel Rudakubana, including false information about his name, and claims that he was an asylum seeker.
The prime minister sought to reassure members of the public of their safety amid the threat of further violent disorder around the country
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan encouraged those in the capital to “stay strong and look out for each other”, and said everyone has a duty to stand up to “hate”.
“Now is the time to please check in on your Black, Brown and minority friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. In many parts of the country, they don’t feel safe,” he said.
Tell Mama, a group monitoring Islamophobia in the UK, said it had alerted police and counter-terrorism to the “far-right threats”.
The Law Society of England and Wales described such gatherings as a “direct assault on our legal profession”.
Meanwhile, police said they were investigating several racially-motivated hate crimes in Belfast on Tuesday evening, including an attack on a young boy by a group of youths.
The prime minister sought to reassure communities, pledging to keep people safe, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told chief constables the government would provide support with overtime pay and other resources needed by police forces.
Justice Minister Alexander also told broadcasters on Tuesday morning that courts could begin sitting through the evening, the night and at weekends in order to prosecute rioters swiftly.
She confirmed some 567 additional prison spaces would soon come into use to deal with rioters from next week.
Approximately 6,000 specialist officers will be at the ready by the end of the week for the so-called “standing army” of police announced by Sir Keir on Monday. These officers have been taken away from their regular duties to deal with ongoing disorder.
In addition to more riot police being put on standby, forces are also stepping up neighbourhood policing patrols, and use of body-worn footage and retrospective facial recognition to identify perpetrators of violence.
Intelligence teams are also monitoring well-known influencers and organisers for activity.
Ms Cooper said: “Criminals should expect to pay the price for violent thuggery and disorder on our streets. Keyboard warriors also cannot hide, as criminal organisation and incitement online will be liable for prosecution and strong penalties too. “
The violence was sparked by false claims about the identity of the teenager suspected of killing three young girls and injuring several others in a knife attack in Southport on July 29, and has seen shops looted and hotels housing asylum seekers attacked.
In Belfast, paramilitaries are suspected to have been an “element” in the latest disorder in the city. Police had come under sustained attack and on Monday night, a man in his 50s was taken to hospital in a serious condition after being attacked in a suspected hate crime.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of riot and possession of a weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, police say.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers came under sustained attack from multiple petrol bombs – with one police vehicle set alight – heavy masonry and bricks over a number of hours. It said around 100 people were involved.
In Plymouth, police officers were injured during “sustained violence” on Monday evening, while similar trouble on the streets of Darlington saw officers pelted with bricks.
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