UK PM Starmer Promises Standing Army of Officers to Tackle Riots
Far-right riots in the United Kingdom, Aug. 2024. Photo: X/ @ElVrother
August 6, 2024 Hour: 8:31 am
Far-right protesters have been throwing projectiles, attacking officers, and looting stores major cities such as London.
On Monday, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that a “standing army” of specialist police officers would be established to deal with riots that have rocked the country following deadly stabbings in Southport, northwest England.
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Starmer made the announcement after an emergency meeting with ministers and top law enforcement officials after far-right protesters violently clashed with police officers and counter-protesters in many cities and towns of the country in the past week.
In the past week, far-right protesters were seen throwing projectiles, attacking officers, looting stores and storming hotels housing asylum seekers in major cities like London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham and Sunderland, as well as in towns like Middlesbrough, Bolton and Rotherham.
On Monday, Gavin Stephens, the chair of the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), confirmed that police have arrested 378 people since the start of the disorder.
“Violent disorder is a serious offence which often comes with a lengthy jail term,” Stephens said, adding that he expects the number to rise each day as police forces continue to identify those involved and continue to apprehend those responsible.
Following the emergency meeting, Starmer said the government will “ramp up criminal justice” to ensure that “sanctions are swift.”
On Monday, Australia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries advised their citizens to take extreme caution when travelling to the United Kingdom and to avoid conflict zones, following a wave of far-right and Islamophobic riots that have swept the country since last week.
teleSUR/ JF Source: XInhua – EFE
