Sir Keir Starmer said he could “guarantee” rioters will “regret taking part in this disorder” as he condemned masked anti-immigration demonstrators who smashed windows at a hotel in South Yorkshire and set it on fire.
Branding the action in Rotherham “far-right thuggery”, the Prime Minister vowed “we will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” as he addressed the nation on TV following a fifth day of violence across parts of the country.
On Sunday night in Tamworth, a police officer was injured outside a second hotel believed to house asylum seekers, the Staffordshire force said.
A large group of individuals were seen near the Holiday Inn throwing projectiles, smashing windows and starting fires.
Sir Keir said: “Be in no doubt, those that have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law.
“The police will be making arrests. Individuals will be held on remand, charges will follow and convictions will follow.
“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves.
“This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online.”
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said since Saturday night there have been 147 arrests connected to violence in towns and cities.
“I expect that number to rise in the coming days,” he added.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the “criminal, violent attack” on the hotel housing asylum seekers was “utterly appalling” as she backed police to take “the strongest action against those responsible”.
Meanwhile, the Home Office announced 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.
At least one police officer was injured during the demonstration at a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham.
Objects including pieces of wood and chairs have been thrown at the hotel and at police officers lined up in front of the building.
Footage posted online showed a blaze breaking out in the building.
At least one injured officer in riot gear was carried away by colleagues with riot police and officers on horseback in attendance.
These protesters know that there are people inside the hotel. This is nothing less than attempted murder… The Govt needs to set up a national Task Force to bring the guilty, including those who inspired them, to justice pic.twitter.com/dbLvoATpjp
— Nick Lowles (@lowles_nick) August 4, 2024
Counter protestors were also at the scene and published photographs online showing them gathered in front of the hotel.
It comes after dozens of arrests were made following scenes of disorder in England and Northern Ireland on Saturday, with police warning of further violence in the coming days.
Multiple towns and cities saw clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters, with police officers attacked and injured, and many more arrests promised.
Greater Manchester Police said a section 34 dispersal notice has been authorised covering Bolton until 10pm on Sunday August 4.
Under a Section 34 notice, officers have extra powers to deal with anyone causing anti-social behaviour in defined areas and the force said officers will be able to instruct and advise anyone who is causing – or very likely to cause – harassment, alarm, or distress to leave an area immediately.
The string of violent incidents over the past few days began on Tuesday in Southport, after three girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said people involved in the clashes “will pay the price” and that “criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets”.
Sir Keir said the police have his “full support” to take action against “extremists” attempting to “sow hate” by intimidating communities as he held emergency talks with ministers over the unrest in parts of England.
The far right has drawn condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum after disorder in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool came before Saturday’s violence.
Arrests have been made across the country with police warning of more to come once CCTV, social media and body-worn camera footage has been scoured.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told ministers “the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible”, a Downing Street spokesperson said, which could see courts sitting for 24 hours a day as they did for the 2011 riots, according to one report.
There was violence on Saturday in towns and cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast which saw several police officers injured.
It followed a riot in Sunderland on Friday evening.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said anyone who attacks police “should be ashamed”.
She wrote on X: “I cannot thank our local police enough for everything they’re doing to keep people safe.
They were among the first on the scene when the horrendous incident unfolded in Southport.
They run into danger to keep us safe, and those who attack them should be ashamed.”
Northern Ireland must always be a place that protects the right to protest, the right to have a view and to express it.
— Emma Little-Pengelly BL (@little_pengelly) August 3, 2024
Let's be VERY clear - violence is not acceptable. It never was and it is not now. No one, NO ONE, has the right to express hate and violence. Stop it now.
Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said “violence is not acceptable”.
“Northern Ireland must always be a place that protects the right to protest, the right to have a view and to express it”, she posted on X.
“Let’s be VERY clear – violence is not acceptable. It never was and it is not now. No one, NO ONE, has the right to express hate and violence. Stop it now.”
In Liverpool, Merseyside Police said about 300 people were involved in violent disorder on County Road, Walton, which included community facilities being set on fire.
The Spellow Lane Library Hub, which was opened last year to provide support for one of the most deprived communities in the country, suffered severe damage to the ground floor.
Police said rioters tried to prevent firefighters from accessing the fire, throwing a missile at the fire engine and breaking the rear window of the cab.
A total of 23 people were arrested on Saturday, Merseyside Police said, including 12 arrests for the disorder in the city centre, nine arrests for the disorder on County Road and two arrests in connection with the disorder in Southport.
One officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.
A strong & visible police presence remains in Hull City Centre tonight as 20 arrests now made for various public order offences. ACC Mike Walker:"Enforcement action will continue as we will not tolerate mindless violence & disorder in our city." More here: https://t.co/QA8xG8g3l4
— Humberside Police (@Humberbeat) August 3, 2024
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss called the behaviour of protesters “deplorable”, adding: “The impact of the disorder will be devastating for the people of Walton, but I promise that we are doing everything in our power to arrest those involved and bring them to justice.”
Merseyside Police also said a 58-year-old man has been charged with two offences following the violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday.
Derek Drummond of Pool Street, Southport, has been charged with violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker. He will appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Monday, August 5, police said.
In Hull, Humberside Police said there were 20 people arrested, three police officers injured and shops looted and burned after a mob attacked a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said: “The right to lawful protest is a part of democracy, which my officers upheld, however, we will not accept the senseless vandalism, antisocial behaviour and sheer violence that has been brought to our streets.”
Businesses were targeted in Belfast where police mounted a significant security operation during a lengthy confrontation between anti-Islamic protesters and those taking part in an anti-racist rally at Belfast City Hall during which fireworks and other missiles were thrown.
In Bristol, police made 14 arrests because of violent disorder in the city centre, which Avon and Somerset Police described as “completely unacceptable”.
Lancashire Police said more than 20 people were arrested and dispersal orders were issued in parts of Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn.
And Staffordshire Police said 10 people were also arrested following disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.
Further protests are planned for Sunday and more trouble is likely in the coming days, police said.
“We know people will try and do this again and policing has been and will continue to be ready,” said Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who speaks on public order for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
“There are 130 extra units in place across the country, meaning almost 4,000 extra public order-trained officers to deploy.
“So if you’re planning to cause trouble and disorder our message is very simple – we’ll be watching you.”
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The acts of violence seen across the country this weekend have involved criminality of the most serious kind. I want there to be no doubt about our determination to ensure that those involved will face severe consequences.
“This weekend, we deployed extra lawyers and will continue to work around the clock in the coming days to make sure that law and order is maintained, and justice is served.
“I have directed prosecutors to make immediate charging decisions where key evidence is in place and they are doing so.
“I am determined that we will act swiftly and robustly, giving the courts maximum ability to pass sentences that reflect what has occurred.”
But the Police Federation for England and Wales voiced concerns officers will be left unable to attend other incidents as they focus efforts on quelling the disorder, warning “there is a cost to all this”.
Deputy chairman Brian Booth told the PA news agency: “Every day this continues means a certain amount of officer hours are being taken away from other policing duties. It has a massive effect on already significant under-resourcing.”
Conservative leader Rishi Sunak said the scenes had “nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport” and warned that “violent, criminal behaviour has no place in our society”.
Merseyside Police said Jimmy Bailey, 45, of Station Avenue, Ellesmere Port, and Declan Geiran, 29, of Kelso Road, Liverpool, have been charged with committing violent disorder in the city centre on Saturday.
They will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday along with Lloyd Killner, 35, of Burton Road, Lincoln and William Nelson, 69, of Linton Street, Walton.
Liam James Riley, 41, of Walton Road, Kirkdale - alleged to have thrown missiles towards police - is due in custody at Wirral Magistrates’ Court.
