'We will come after you': Met police chief issues warning as rioters jailed
Parts of the UK are bracing tonight for more violence, with looming fears of riots and disorder around the country
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.
The first prison sentences for people involved in violent disorder have been handed out, as Stacey Foster reports.
Pictured below: Derek Drummond (left), Declan Geiran (middle) and Liam Riley (right)
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."
Business owners and shopkeepers in various areas have boarded up windows and closed early, ahead of further expected demonstrations.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says there is "no excuse for thuggery and criminality on the streets"
Police have been patrolling certain areas where there is a threat of disorder and dispersal orders are in place in parts of the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said “it’s not a legitimate complaint to throw bricks at police” as she vowed those involved with riots “will be met with the law”.
Speaking from the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers near Rotherham that was recently targeted the deputy PM said: "It’s not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that.
"This is thuggery, this is violence, someone could’ve got seriously injured over the last couple of days and it’s no excuse for that, and people should stay away from it."
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said on Wednesday one case of alleged terrorism is "actively under consideration" following widespread disorder.
Mr Parkinson said: “No one’s been charged with a terrorism offence yet.
“I’m aware of one case which is actively under consideration.
“We’re working very closely with counter terrorism police, so I know there are a number of inquiries that are potentially underway – that includes scouring the internet and social media, looking out for the potential for terrorism offences to be committed.”
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.
He reacted to Wednesday's, posting on X: "This is the swift action we’re taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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