UK has lost respect for police, says Home Secretary in wake of riots

The UK has lost respect for the police, the Home Secretary has said as she condemned the “brazen abuse and contempt” officers faced during rioting.

Attacks on local communities and police are a “disgraceful assault on the rule of law itself,” said Yvette Cooper.

Cooper said respect for the police must be restored in the wake of riots in some towns and cities across the UK.

“As home secretary, I am not prepared to tolerate the brazen abuse and contempt which a minority have felt able to show towards our men and women in uniform, or the disrespect for law and order that has been allowed to grow in recent years,” Cooper wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

“As well as punishing those responsible for the last fortnight’s violent disorder, we must take action to restore respect for the police and respect for the law.”

She said it was crucial to maintain a strong police response on the ground and keep up the pace of arrests and prosecutions.

Her comments come as hundreds gathered for the funeral of Alice Da Silva Aguiar, one of the three girls killed in a mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport.

Alice, aged nine, died from her injuries on Tuesday July 30, the day after the attack, which also left Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, dead.

The nine-year-old’s parents Sergio and Alexandra were joined by family and friends at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in the town on Sunday.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murder of the three girls in Merseyside.

He is also charged with the attempted murder of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

The incident sparked nationwide disorder, with violence erupting around the country.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 779 people have been arrested over rioting, of whom 349 have been charged.

The NPCC said specialist officers have been tasked with pursuing suspected online offenders and influencers, who they say are responsible for “spreading hate and inciting violence on a large scale”.

Around 6,000 officers have been mobilised to respond to incidents of violence and disorder around the country.

“Lots of people across Britain have strong views on law and order, immigration, and the NHS. But they don’t pick up bricks and throw them at the police, loot shops or wreck cars, attack people because of the colour of their skin, or set light to buildings knowing people are inside,” Cooper said.

“The Prime Minister and I made clear to the police at the outset of this disorder that they would have the Government’s full support in taking the strongest possible action against every level of perpetrator.”

The director of public prosecutions reportedly warned that the worst offending protesters could face up to 10 years in prison if they are charged with rioting.

Stephen Parkinson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said hundreds of violent rioters will continue appearing in courts across the country in the coming days, the Sunday Times said.

Stephen Parkinson told The Sunday Times it's not about "exacting revenge" but about "delivering justice."

Mr Parkinson reportedly told of a “new phase” of cases which will include “more serious charges with stiffer penalties”.

Many charged so far have been prosecuted for violent disorder, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

The Sunday Times reported that the CPS is considering charging people with the more serious offence of rioting, which could lead to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The newspaper quoted Mr Parkinson saying: “We warned of the consequences and we will deliver these consequences.

“It’s not about exacting revenge, it’s about delivering justice.”

During the weekend, police have continued to charge people and courts have continued to progress cases in relation to the unrest.

Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled plans to take a summer holiday as the Government continues to deal with the fallout from the rioting.

He had instructed police to stay on high alert at the weekend, but no widespread unrest materialised.

Anti-racism protesters gathered in London, Belfast and Edinburgh. Thousands demonstrated outside the headquarters of Reform UK.

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