'Sustained violence' breaks out in Plymouth after more than 370 arrested over riots

Far-right protesters have clashed with counter-demonstrators in Plymouth, as Geraint Vincent reports from the scene

Police in riot gear have attempted to push back Plymouth demonstrators in violent clashes, after more than 370 people linked to public disorder over the past week were arrested.

Devon and Cornwall police have deployed 150 officers who have been met with "sustained violence" during Plymouth demonstrations.

Officers detained a man on the floor, as protesters launched missiles and fireworks at a counter-demonstration where people held signs stating “No Place for Hate” and “Say No to Nazis”.

Six people were arrested following the disorder. In a social media post, the police force said: “Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated."

Speaking to Sky News from the scene, bronze commander Inspector Ryan North Moore said "large masonry" had been thrown at officers and that "three officers are down" - but the extent of their injuries is unknown.

In the wake of the violent disorder, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a "standing army" of specialist officers to tackle widespread riots, after a Cobra emergency response meeting was held in Downing Street on Monday.

He called the violence seen across the country "mindless thuggery", and promised swift criminal sanctions for those who have broken the law.

“We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them,” he said.

Starmer pledged to name those arrested and charged for committing criminal acts in protests as soon as possible.

"I've asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved, who will feel the full force of the law," Starmer said.

"This is not protest, this is pure violence."

Starmer also stressed that criminal law applies online as well as offline, in an apparent reference to misinformation and incitement spread on social media.

Downing Street also criticised X owner Elon Musk for claiming “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, with officials suggesting online misinformation fuelling disorder on Britain’s streets may be being amplified by foreign state actors.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Today I had useful meetings with TikTok, Meta, Google and X, to make clear their responsibility to continue to work with us to stop the spread of hateful misinformation and incitement.

“Where they have acted, they have my full backing and the support of teams across government, who have been working round the clock to do this.”

The far-right violence which continues to break out in parts of the UK saw hotels housing asylum seekers targeted with racist abuse and Islamophobia

It follows violent protests across the country, where some rioters tried to storm hotels housing asylum seekers on the sixth day of escalating disorder.

Starmer rejected claims made by Nigel Farage of a “two-tier policing” in Britain, where right-wing protests are dealt with more harshly than left-wing ones.

"There is no two-tier policing," Starmer said. "There is policing without fear or favour, exactly as it should be."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was also asked about so-called two-tier policing as he left the Cobra meeting.

He appeared to grab a journalist's microphone and throw it to the ground in response, before walking away and not saying anything.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told ITV News the riots were a disgrace, and said there must be a "reckoning" for those involved.

"It's important that those involved in this criminal disorder and violence know that instead of thinking they'll be going off on their summer holidays, they will face arrest, prosecution and a police cell as a result of the things that they've done," she added.

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Cooper also confirmed additional prosecutors and protective security support for mosques across the country had been put in place.

An extra 70 prosecutors will be on hand over the weekend to quickly charge criminals, the prime minister's spokesperson said.

"These people do not speak for Britain, they do not speak for communities across the country," she added.

"Those who came out to clean up the debris to pull their communities together who speak for our towns and cities."

She called for social media companies to take responsibility for fuelling disinformation, claiming different online platforms have put "rocket boosters" under extremism.

National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Gavin Stephens stressed police were not anti-protest but anti-crime.

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly condemned the targeting of asylum hotels and mosques, but said the government were not quick off the mark enough in organising a Cobra meeting.

"They were too slow," he said.

"There were important cross-Whitehall decisions which should have been made earlier than this. But I'm glad now, finally, the government is getting its act together to give the reassurance the British people need."

Referring to additional police powers brought in by the Conservative Government, Cleverly called on the government to take "decisive action" to "bring peace and order back to the streets of the UK".

It comes after Malaysia issued a safety warning to its citizens in the UK, advising Malaysians living in or visiting the UK to “stay away” from protest areas and “remain vigilant”.

Nigeria and Indonesia have since issued their own travel alerts, with both countries warning their citizens to avoid large crowds.

The Home Office announced on Sunday that mosques would be offered greater protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly tackle the threat of further attacks on places of worship.

Jeremy Corbyn and four fellow Independent MPs have criticised Starmer for not going far enough to identify the anti-Muslim hatred behind the riots on Britain’s streets.

“At a time when gangs of violent racist thugs are targeting mosques and asylum centres, we are alarmed the government has said they have no plans to meet with the largest body representing Muslims in the UK, the Muslim Council of Britain," the letter read.

The five MPs also called for an urgent meeting with the home secretary.

Meanwhile, several Muslim organisations have welcomed the announcement for extra security for UK mosques.

A spokesperson for Islamic Relief UK said racism, Islamophobia and the "dehumanisation of refugees" were putting communities at risk.

They added: “We are hopeful that the government’s announcement of extra support to mosques should offer some reassurance, and help normal services to resume.

“Wherever racism or Islamophobia rears its head, it must be called out for what it is and stamped out.”

It comes as Tell Mama, which monitors Islamophobia in the UK, reported a fivefold increase in threats to Muslim communities, and a threefold increase in hate crime incidents and crimes.

A large crowd gathered outside a mosque in Middlesbrough on Sunday night and others have also been targeted.

In Rotherham, anti-immigration rioters smashed the windows of the Holiday Inn Express, where asylum seekers were understood to be staying, before starting fires.

At least ten officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police confirmed later, saying one person had already been arrested and others involved should “expect us to be at their doors very soon”.

Masked men hurled lengths of wood, chairs and bottles, and sprayed fire extinguishers at officers outside after some 700 people gathered.

A similar incident played out at a Holiday Inn hotel in Tamworth into Sunday evening, where reports suggested asylum seekers were also being housed.

People threw projectiles, smashed windows, started fires and targeted officers, Staffordshire Police said.

A group of rioters in Middlesbrough smashed the windows of houses and cars, and threw objects at officers on Sunday afternoon, with one seen shouting a racial slur and another telling police: “It’s our f****** country.”

There were 43 arrests, and significant damage was caused to the Crown Court and the University, Cleveland Police said.

Greater Manchester Police issued a Section 60AA order amid disturbances in Bolton, requiring people to “remove face coverings used to disguise or conceal their appearance”.

Violence has broken out in several parts of England and Northern Ireland in the wake of the killing of three young girls in Southport last week.

One child remains in hospital after the attack, all other patients have been discharged.

Protests were held in London, Aldershot, Hartlepool, and Manchester last week.

More than 50 police officers were also hurt in the first wave of violence seen in Southport the day after the stabbings.

The widespread unrest poses the biggest challenge yet to Sir Keir’s premiership, with MPs including Ian Byrne and Dame Priti Patel saying parliament should be recalled as it was in 2011 so the Commons could debate the riots.

The former first minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf said the army should be called in to stop “thugs” causing disorder on the streets.

Ministers have so far insisted police have the resources required to respond and have rejected calls to bring in the army.

Sir Keir said he wanted those who “feel targeted because of the colour of their skin” to know “this violent mob do not represent our country”.

In his message to rioters, the prime minister said: “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.”

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