The UK government’s policing minister has raised concerns about the possibility of new protests in the coming days, despite a relatively calm night following recent violent demonstrations.
Dame Diana Johnson, speaking to Sky News, cautioned against complacency, stating, “I am cautious about what happened last night. It’s good that we didn’t see the level of disorder and criminality on our streets that we have seen in previous days, but obviously, this is just the start.” She hinted at additional intelligence suggesting potential unrest in the near future but did not specify the number or locations of these planned events.
On Wednesday night, police had prepared for up to 100 planned protests across the UK, following a week of escalating riots. However, the anticipated violence did not materialize as expected. Instead, a significant police presence deterred far-right demonstrators, leading to mostly peaceful counter-protests.
Dame Diana attributed the subdued protests to the robust police response and the swift arrest and prosecution of rioters. Since the onset of the unrest, over 400 individuals have been arrested. The disturbances began last Tuesday after false claims circulated online that the suspect in the Southport stabbings was a Syrian asylum seeker. The actual suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, is a Cardiff-born individual of Rwandan descent, charged with the murder of three girls and the attempted murder of others.
To date, more than 120 people have been charged with offenses including violent disorder, racially aggravated harassment, and inciting racial hatred online. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who oversaw Wednesday’s operations, praised the effectiveness of the police’s show of force and the community’s unity. “I’m really pleased with how it went,” Rowley stated. “We put thousands of officers on the street, and the show of force from the police and the unity from communities helped defeat the challenges we’ve faced.”
Following the previous night’s calm, police conducted dawn raids on Thursday to apprehend suspected violent offenders. Rowley revealed that about 70% of these individuals have prior criminal records. He emphasized that those involved are criminals rather than protestors with a legitimate cause. “These are criminal thugs,” Rowley asserted. “Any suggestion that they are patriots or have a cause is nonsense. They are criminals and most will be charged with violent disorder and face significant prison sentences.”
The police continue to review footage and evidence from the recent riots, aiming to apprehend additional offenders in the coming hours.
