Summary of the day …
The past two nights have been quieter but police said 6000 riot officers will be deployed over the coming weekend, as police wait to see if the worst of the violence and attempts to trigger it are over. Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs’ Council chair, said: “While the previous two nights have been a welcome break from the appalling scenes of the last week, and may have reached a turning point, we are by no means complacent. Stephens said arrests over the disorder would probably continue for months
Police said about 150 people had been charged, with more to come, and said further cases should be expected against “rioters and those spreading online hate”. Police investigating the far right-led riots say they have made 595 arrests for alleged offences including violent disorder, theft and antisocial behaviour
Keir Starmer has said the police are to remain on “high alert”. The prime minister said he believed the swift processing of rioters in the courts had a deterring effect, telling broadcasters: “I’m absolutely convinced that having the police officers in place these last few days, and the swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts have had a real impact. But we have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure”
The prime minister has said his government needs to “look more broadly at social media after this disorder” in a warning to social media companies. Questioned on Sadiq Khan’s comments that the Online Safety Act was not fit for purpose, Starmer said “I do agree that we’re going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder”
Scotland’s first minister has told social media companies “immediate action” must be taken to crack down on disinformation and racism. John Swinney said police chiefs in Scotland have raised concern at the length of time it takes for technology companies to remove “problematic” posts
Police in Northern Ireland are bracing for potential fresh clashes in Belfast on Friday when rival groups are due to gather outside the city hall. A police spokesperson promised a “significant” security operation in Belfast on Friday. An anti-racism rally is scheduled at 4.30pm and an anti-immigrant one is expected at 5pm, presenting another challenge for a force over-stretched by five consecutive nights of disorder
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said he does not think it is helpful for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful protests while police forces have been stretched to cope with several days of violent far-right disorder
A man has been jailed for 20 months in Leeds for publishing Facebook posts encouraging people to attack a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers in the first case of its kind
Former Labour councillor Ricky Jones has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow, the CPS said
Some rioters jailed over recent disorder could be released from prison early under a scheme to tackle overcrowding, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. Last month, ministers announced that they were changing the law to allow some criminals to leave prison early because of a lack of jail space
That is it from me, Martin Belam, today. I will be back with you next week.
The Ministry of Justice has issued new figures on those appearing before courts in the wake of far-right led violence across England and Northern Irealnd. In a message posted to social media, the department claimed that 154 people had been in court, 118 had been remanded in detention, and 56 people have been sentenced or are awaiting sentence.
There is no place for violent disorder in our country.
— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) August 9, 2024
Hundreds of people have faced the consequences for their actions already.
More will follow. pic.twitter.com/AeJeu9e2Xc
Police have charged 11 more people with offences relating to disorder in Whitehall, including a 14-year-old boy, and a man who was bitten by a police dog after throwing a can at police officers during riots in Sunderland has been jailed for 26 months.
Three other men have been convicted for their part in violent disorder in Sunderland last week, and DCI Graeme Barr, of Northumbria police’s major investigation team, said: “This is another brilliant result in our investigation, bringing our total number of convictions to nine. I hope this sends a strong message to our communities that violent disorder will not be tolerated – those involved won’t get away with it and we’ll use every tactic at our disposal to bring offenders before the courts.”
Father-of-three Tyler Kay, 26, has been jailed for 38 months at Northampton
Crown Court after stirring up racial hatred by using social media to call for
hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.
More than 130 law firms, human rights organisations and refugee charities have called on the Home Office to immediately suspend immigration bail reporting for thousands of asylum seekers and other migrants.
Under Home Office rules many asylum seekers and other migrants have to attend regular appointments at Home Office reporting centres or police stations to prove they have not absconded.
However 137 organisations supporting asylum seekers say that at the present time having large numbers of people queueing outside these centres could make them a target for the far right. They urge the Home Office to replace in person reporting with phone reporting, especially as the absconding rate for this group is lower than 5%.
In a letter to home secretary Yvette Cooper, the organisations have written: “We are gravely concerned about the high risks to the welfare and safety of migrants and the wider public as a result of continuing in person immigration reporting during the ongoing escalation of nationwide far right violence targeting migrants and racialised communities.”
Twelve people have been charged by the Metropolitan police with offences linked to events in Walthamstow, Hounslow and Croydon on Wednesday evening. The charges include possession of offensive weapons, violent disorder, and going equipped to cause criminal damage.
Police chief: it is 'inevitable' that arrests over disorder will continue for months
In a media briefing, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) chair Gavin Stephens, asked how long arrests would continue to be made for, said “I think months is probably inevitable.”
He continued:
If we just think of some of the practicalities of it – we might have somebody that’s unidentified, they’re not on our system, so they haven’t come up on the facial recognition check-in, nobody’s come forward to identify them.
There’s every chance – a few weeks down the line – we may end up bringing somebody into custody who is identified and on their phone is a picture of their mate who they were with.
It could be months down the track – it won’t stop us dealing with it when we get it. They’ll still end up getting investigated and arrested.
A man who kicked a police officer during disorder in Whitehall has been jailed for 10 months. Ozzie Cush, 20, confronted a group of Metropolitan police officers near Trafalgar Square. Cush, of Reading, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. He had two previous convictions relating to criminal damage, and had been on bail awaiting sentence for one of the convictions at the time of the assault.
PA Media reports that Jordan Parlour has been jailed for 20 months at Leeds Crown Court for publishing Facebook posts encouraging people to attack a hotel in the city housing more than 200 asylum seekers and refugees. It is the first case of its kind relating to recent disorder in England and Northern Ireland.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) chair, chief constable Gavin Stephens, has said Saturday would be “one of the strongest national policing responses that we’ve ever done. We’ve got a busy weekend with sporting fixtures, big community events and so on. The investigations really are only just ramping up.”
Our opinion team have spoken to several people who are refugees and asylum seekers to talk about the riots, their fear, the racial harassment they are experiencing, and their hope that inclusive values will prevail after the eruption of far-right violence in the UK. You can read it here.
The National Pharmacy Association has carried out a survey which found that one in three pharmacies had considered closing due to safety concerns as violent disorder broke out across England and that 13% of pharmacy teams had faced racist comments over the last week. Over half of community pharmacy teams said they have felt unsafe.
Paul Rees, chief executive of the association said “The last two weeks have been tough for so many people working in community pharmacy – especially for those who are of South Asian heritage, black or from other ethnic minorities. We should not expect community pharmacy teams, under any circumstances, to accept being subjected to intimidation, harassment, racism or Islamaphobic abuse.”
A judge in Belfast has warned those caught observing or taking part in public disorder will be refused bail, as four men appeared in court charged in relation to recent riots in the city.
PA Media report that Judge Rafferty said that someone’s presence, including a “curious observer”, at disorder involves them in such disorder as he refused two bail applications.
A police officer told the court that police have been dealing with serious ongoing public disorder in Belfast in recent days.
An 18-year-old from Belfast was charged with rioting.
Former Labour councillor charged with encouraging violent disorder
Former Labour councillor Ricky Jones, 57, has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
PA Media reports Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said:
The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder.
Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protesters.
He has been arrested and charged within 48 hours, and will now appear at Westminster magistrates court this afternoon, 9 August 2024.
We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
Labour suspended the councillor when footage emerged on social media yesterday. The footage was shared by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage among others. Farage captioned the clip with “This man should be arrested. If not, we know there is two-tier policing.”
6,000 riot officers to be deployed this weekend
The past two nights have been quieter but police said 6000 riot officers will be deployed over the coming weekend, as police wait to see if the worst of the violence and attempts to trigger it are over.
Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs’ Council chair, said: “While the previous two nights have been a welcome break from the appalling scenes of the last week, and may have reached a turning point, we are by no means complacent.
“Thousands of specially trained officers remain on duty, ready to tackle any unrest and disorder, and we continue to monitor, gather and review intelligence to make sure our officers are where they need to be to keep their communities safe.
“Our message to those involved in violence is that we continue to comb through thousands of images, live streams and videos as well as body worn footage to find you.
“We are grateful to those who are calling us to identify those in the images circulated by forces. We are also grateful for the many messages of support to the officers, staff and volunteers that have faced hatred, racial abuse and violence whilst doing their job.”
Stephen Parkinson, director of Public Prosecutions, said: “More than 100 extra CPS prosecutors stand ready to respond rapidly to emerging requirements for charging decisions and advice.
“We understand the deterrence impact of a swift and robust response from law enforcement. Our aim is to make immediate charging decisions where we can, to enable courts to sentence within days.
“My advice to anyone considering taking part in violent disorder – don’t. You will almost certainly be caught, convicted, and likely imprisoned.”
Updated
Police said around 150 people had been charged, with more to come, and said further cases should be expected against “rioters and those spreading online hate”.
Detectives are using a variety of sources to identify suspects including drone footage and body worn video footage from cameras officers wear.
Police chiefs are convinced their constant public messages about swift and robust justice has and will continue to act as a deterrent to at least some who may be tempted to join in the violent disorder seen across England and Northern Ireland, since last Tuesday.
The latest police statement released Friday afternoon, is part of that deliberate campaign.
The violence broke out after false information was placed online, then widely shared, about the suspect of the stabbings in Southport at a children’s dance class that left three young girls dead.
Violence is at least in part stoked by the extremist far right, and has seen a strong anti-immigration and anti-immigrant sentiment. Some people arrested have just joined in spontaneously, police think.
Updated
A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officer said there will be a “significant visible policing operation in place” ahead of a planned anti-immigration protest and counter protest in Belfast, PA reported.
Police investigating the far right-led riots say they have made 595 arrests for alleged offences including violent disorder, theft and antisocial behaviour.
They say “hundreds more suspects” should expect to be arrested soon, and have been identified “thanks to technology like facial recognition”.
The new figures were issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Updated
Here is a video clip of the prime minister speaking earlier today. Keir Starmer said that the police must remain on “high alert” for any possible disorder.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has said she welcomes the BBC’s decision to launch an independent review after the Huw Edwards case.
The corporation announced on Friday that it had asked Edwards to pay back the salary he earned during the period after his arrest in November last year, after his guilty plea to charges of having indecent images of children.
PA Media reports Nandy said:
Public trust in the BBC is essential, and so I welcome the BBC’s decision to launch an independent review into the culture within the organisation following the Huw Edwards case and his abhorrent actions.
The BBC is a hugely valued and important player in the public service broadcasting landscape that reaches millions every day and it is vital that the public has complete trust and faith in the organisation and in how it is run.
BBC staff must be able to feel safe in the workplace and be confident that if non-editorial complaints are raised they will be acted upon and dealt with fairly and decisively.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the government, however I have spoken to the BBC chair in the past week to convey these points in the interests of the public.after
Ben Quinn and Vikram Dodd report for the Guardian:
Police are examining the potential for violence to break out at forthcoming football fixtures in the wake of unrest in cities across England after the killings of three young girls in Southport.
Existing assessments of fixtures are being looked at again in the light of the recent events, and individual forces are working closely with league officials and the Football Policing Unit (UKFPU).
Each of this weekend’s fixtures will be assessed to see whether more officers are needed inside or outside the ground, when fans mill around before the game, or as they go home. Assessments also cover whether more officers might be needed where fans congregate, such as city or town centres.
Read more here: Police assessing football fixtures in England for risk of violence
Lancashire police said five more people have been charged in connection with disorder in the county over the past week. Two men are expected to be the first to face jail for stirring up racial hatred after the riots, with sentencing of Jordan Parlour in Leeds and Tyler Kay in Northampton due after they posted material online.
Starmer: government has to 'look more broadly at social media after this disorder'
The prime minister has said his government needs to “look more broadly at social media after this disorder” in a warning to social media companies.
Asked about whether Elon Musk should be “mindful” of who he lets on to the social media platform which he owns, Keir Starmer said “I think people should be mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.”
When questioned on Sadiq Khan’s comments that the Online Safety Act was not fit for purpose, Starmer said “I do agree that we’re going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder and making sure that our communities are safe and secure.”
Eleni Courea and Rowena Mason have this profile of Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick:
Last week, Robert Jenrick held a launch event in his constituency where he put cutting migration at the centre of his pitch. This week, he was widely criticised for saying that any protester who shouts “Allahu Akbar” should be arrested – seen by many as a deliberate attempt to ingratiate himself to Tory members who are sympathetic to Farage and Reform. “He is the credible face of Reform-leaning Conservatism,” a Tory centrist who lost their seat this summer said.
Colleagues of Jenrick, a former corporate lawyer who studied at Cambridge, say he has always been extremely ambitious. “His heart was never in commercial law. I think it was always in politics,” a Tory MP who has known Jenrick for more than a decade said. Jenrick’s extensive property portfolio became a focus during his 2014 byelection campaign, at a time when David Cameron and his party were accused of being out of touch.
Jenrick’s political career took off after he endorsed Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest, for which he was rewarded with the role of housing secretary. Quite quickly afterwards he was engulfed in scandal over his decision to approve a £1bn property development proposed by Richard Desmond against the advice of officials. The controversy did not immediately end Jenrick’s cabinet career, but he faced further difficulties – including allegations that he broke lockdown rules to visit his parents in April 2020 – before he was eventually sacked in September 2021.
When Rishi Sunak became prime minister in October 2022, he made Jenrick immigration minister on the basis that he was a loyalist who could keep an eye on the troublemaking home secretary Suella Braverman. A Tory strategist who has worked with Jenrick said he was “sent in to watch Suella to make sure she didn’t do anything too stupid”.
Read more here from Eleni Courea and Rowena Mason: How did Robert Jenrick go from centrist Tory to anti-immigration hardliner?
Starmer: police to remain on 'high alert' heading into the weekend
The prime minister has said the police are to remain on “high alert” as the country heads into the weekend after days of violent disorder and unrest in England and Northern Ireland.
Despite large scale anti-racism protests on Wednesday night appearing to have halted the far-right violence in England, Keir Starmer said: “My message to the police and all of those that are charged with responding to disorder is maintain that high alert.”
The prime minister said he believed the swift processing of rioters in the courts had an deterring effect, telling broadcasters: “I’m absolutely convinced that having the police officers in place these last few days, and the swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts have had a real impact. But we have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure.”
Starmer met with London’s Met police chief Mark Rowley and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine at the force’s Lambeth command and control base for a briefing on the police’s response to public disorder.
Asked if the start of the football season would complicate policing at the weekend, the prime minister said: “I think there were a lot of things in the mix this weekend but of course, whatever the challenge, we have to rise to it.
“That’s why I’ve had Cobra meetings, that’s why I’ve been talking to the police today about their plans for the weekend. Yes, football is added into the mix, there are other things in the mix, but our focus has to be absolutely solely on the safety and security of our communities, and that’s exactly where it is.”
Due to a new television deal with Sky Sports, for the first time on the opening weekend 3pm kick-offs on the Championship have all been moved to 12.30pm, and all Saturday’s League One fixtures start at 5.30pm, lengthening the amount of time during the day that police can expect supporters to be travelling.
The prime minister also warned users of social media that it is not “a law free zone”, adding “I think that’s clear from the prosecutions and sentencing. Today we’re due sentencing for online behaviour. That’s a reminder to everyone that whether you’re directly involved or whether you’re remotely involved, you’re culpable, and you will be put before the courts if you’ve broken the law.”
Updated
Some jailed rioters could be released early due to scheme to tackle prison overcrowding
Rajeev Syal is home affairs editor of the Guardian
Rioters jailed over recent disorder could be released from prison early under a scheme to tackle overcrowding, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.
Last month, ministers announced that they were changing the law to allow some criminals to leave prison early because of a lack of jail space.
Criminals serving determinate sentences would be able to leave after serving 40 per cent of their custodial sentence rather than the current 50 per cent.
Some of those found guilty of violent offences in connection with the riots have been given sentences lower than the four-year limit. At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, three were given sentences of three years, 30 months and 20 months.
The release points for those convicted of involvement in violent disorder will depend upon the offence they are convicted of and the sentence they receive.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The Government has brought in over 500 new prison places early, to ensure there is a cell waiting for everyone involved in the recent disorder and thuggery.
“The justice secretary was forced to introduce the emergency capacity measures last month, to address the prison crisis the government inherited.”
Police in Northern Ireland promise to stop disorder as more demonstrations planned for Belfast
Rory Carroll is the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent
Police in Northern Ireland are bracing for potential fresh clashes in Belfast on Friday when rival groups are due to gather outside the city hall.
A police spokesperson promised a “significant” security operation in Belfast on Friday even though reinforcements from Scotland will not arrive until next week.
An anti-racism rally is scheduled at 4.30pm and an anti-immigrant one is expected at 5pm, presenting another challenge for a force over-stretched by five consecutive nights of disorder.
The chief constable, Jon Boutcher, said 120 officers from Scotland who were trained in public order would arrive next Tuesday to bolster his exhausted force. “The PSNI will deal with this disorder … we will stop it,” said Boutcher.
Earlier this week the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said chronic underfunding had left the Police Service of Northern Ireland at “breaking point”.
Sporadic incidents on Thursday night – bricks thrown at officers, a car set on fire, house windows smashed – were smaller-scale than previous nights, when rioters emulated the disorder in England that erupted after the killing of three girls in Southport.
However the protests planned on Friday prompted Queen’s University Belfast to close its campus for the day. Some city centre businesses are considering closing early. On Thursday the police said a purported police statement circulating on social media that urged businesses to close at 2pm was fake.
Scotland’s first minister has told social media companies “immediate action” must be taken to crack down on disinformation and racism.
John Swinney said police chiefs in Scotland have raised concern at the length of time it takes for technology companies to remove “problematic” posts, telling social media bosses:
It is clear to me that social media platforms have a duty to take action to ensure that individuals in our society are not subjected to hate and threatening behaviour, and that communities are protected from violent disorder.
Everyone has a role in stopping the spread of misinformation. You and your platform have a specific responsibility to do so.
Given the seriousness of the situation, action needs to be immediate and decisive.
A 40-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a charge assault by beating of a police officer at a protest in Southampton on Wednesday, PA Media reports.
A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with violent disorder in Liverpool last week, Merseyside police said. Cleveland police said two men from Hartlepool have been charged with violent disorder, and a 49-year-old man in the West Midlands has been charged with possessing an imitation firearm after video was circulated on social media on Monday.
Ministers will keep the Online Safety Act under review , a government minister has said, after the London mayor called it “not fit for purpose” in light of the spread of misinformation, which he said contributed to this month’s far-right riots.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the paymaster general, said Sadiq Khan raised a “legitimate policy challenge” when he told the Guardian there needed to be amendments to the Online Safety Act.
Khan added that the government should “very quickly … check if it is fit for purpose”, and said he did not think it was.
“I think very swiftly the government has realised there needs to be amendments to the Online Safety Act,” Khan said. “I think what the government should do very quickly is check if it is fit for purpose. I think it’s not fit for purpose.”
Thomas-Symonds said the government was prepared to “quickly review and consider” the act, and that police would “come after people” found to be inciting violence online.
“If we need to act in relation to online safety laws, we will. Sadiq Khan’s challenge is that we quickly review it, consider it, and that’s exactly what we will do … That’s a very legitimate policy challenge, it’s important to get that right.
“But irrespective of that policy debate, people who are acting now doing illegal things online like inciting violence, encouraging violence, organising violence, that is against the law now, and if you are doing that now, just as if you are engaging in threats or violent disorders on our streets, the police will come after you.”
“They will also come after you if you are behaving like that online as well,” he said.
Read more here: Online Safety Act to be reviewed after Sadiq Khan criticism, says minister
Police in Northern Ireland make appeal to public after further disorder and race-related hate crime incidents
Police in Northern Ireland have appealed to the public to not allow criminals to hide in their communities, after another night of disorder.
PA Media reports the PSNI said it responded to several race-related hate crime incidents and other disorder on Thursday night.
Officers dealt with a number of reports of criminal damage to property including a car being set on fire and a window of a house being broken.
Assistant chief constable Melanie Jones said:
Our officers dealt with a fifth night of incidents such as criminal damage, disorder and arson. Those who are intent on causing disorder or committing offences, need to think of the consequences of their actions.
Yesterday we issued six images of people we want to speak to in relation to this recent disorder. One individual has since been identified and we thank the public for their assistance with this.
I am also appealing to the public directly, do not let these criminals hide in your community. Anyone with any information which can help identify any of these individuals should contact us.
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, who earlier this week posted to social media about protester Steve Bray saying “About time the law caught up with this public nuisance. Let’s hope the court case is costly and keeps our streets clear of this freak show” has this morning complained on social media “It feels like free speech is coming to an end” at the prospect of legislation defining Islamophobia.
Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, writes for the Guardian today, arguing that the enemy of the working class travels by private jet, not migrant dinghy:
The fuse may have been set alight by online disinformation and secretive social media channels, but this explosion of far-right violence has been decades in the making. And while Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson) and his mob of far-right agitators are its immediate instigators, much of Britain’s political and media class is complicit in laying the groundwork for this eruption of hate.
This truth of how we reached this point flips the normal classist narrative about racism in Britain. The reality is that racism isn’t a bottom-up expression of popular discontent, but a top-down project propagated by people in positions of power.
Just think about how the billionaire-owned rightwing press drip-feeds hate into British politics, splashing fearmongering headlines across their papers: “Islamist plotters in schools across the UK” – the Telegraph; “1 in 5 Brit Muslims’ sympathy for jihadis” – the Sun; “Migrants spark housing crisis” – the Daily Mail.
Or think how Conservative politicians normalise far-right rhetoric, dehumanising people and spreading hate. From “one nation” Conservatives such as David Cameron who as prime minister described migrants as a “swarm”, to the likes of Suella Braverman who as home secretary said there was a migrant “invasion”. Rishi Sunak’s “Stop the boats” slogan is now a far-right chant and just this week the Tory party leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said the police should “immediately arrest” people shouting “Allahu Akbar” on the street, the Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” – the equivalent of a Christian saying “hallelujah”.
Read more here: Zarah Sultana – The enemy of the working class travels by private jet, not migrant dinghy
Former foreign and home secretary James Cleverly has used the news that the number of people applying to study and work in the UK has dropped to bolster his credentials as a potential future leader. Link to reports about the drop in numbers, Cleverly posted to social media to say “If you want to know what I’d do as party leader … look at what I’ve already done.”
Minister: Online Safety Act will be reviewed after call by Sadiq Khan
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said that the government will respond to Sadiq Khan’s call for a review of the Online Safety Act.
He told listeners of the BBC Radio 4 programme “Sadiq Khan’s challenge is that we quickly review it, consider it, and that’s exactly what we will do. If we need to act in relation to online safety laws – we will.”
The act, which became law last October, gives Ofcom the power to fine social media companies up to £18m or 10% of their global turnover if they fail to take robust action against content inciting violence or terrorism.
Ofcom is still drafting guidelines on how it will implement the law, and enforcement is not expected to begin until next year.
“I think very swiftly the government has realised there needs to be amendments to the Online Safety Act,” Khan said in an interview with the Guardian. “I think what the government should do very quickly is check if it is fit for purpose. I think it’s not fit for purpose.”
Khan said there were “things that could be done by responsible social media platforms” but added: “If they don’t sort their own house out, regulation is coming.”
Read more here: Online Safety Act not fit for purpose after far-right riots, says Sadiq Khan
More people are expected to be charged and sentenced today after days of violent far-right unrest. Three men are due to appear in court after being charged with violent disorder in Sunderland. At least a dozen people were jailed on Thursday for their part in the riots of the past ten days, with sentencing due for four defendants in a Leeds court this morning, during which cameras are to be permitted. Sentencing is also taking place in Newcastle, Teesside, Liverpool, Sheffield, Northampton and London.
Minister: additional police officers to be available heading into weekend after unrest
A government minister has said that there will continue to be additional police officers going into a weekend when the English Football League starts and high temperatures are expected, which has caused some concern that far-right violent disorder might flare again.
Asked about fears “far-right groups could seek to exploit” fixtures, Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: “You always are vigilant about far-right activity and that is what the Government will continue to be.
He continued “going into this weekend, it’s important that the message continues to go out that if you engage in violent, thuggish behaviour on our streets, you’re going to be dealt with quickly by the criminal justice system.
“We’ve already seen sentences of up to three years handed down, people now facing the inside of a prison cell because of the appalling way in which they’ve conducted themselves in recent days.
“But also we’ll continue to make those additional officers available and where there are communities with particular fears – I was in Bristol for example yesterday talking to Muslim community leaders – we will make sure that we make protection available to those communities as well. It’s hugely important.”
Because of a new television deal with Sky Sports, for the first time on the opening weekend of the season all Championship matches have been moved to a 12.30 kick off, and all League One matches have been moved to a 5.30pm kick off, lengthening the time that authorities expect football fans to be travelling.
Thomas-Symonds is Paymaster General and minister for the Cabinet Office.
Minister: unhelpful for politicians to be encouraging demonstrations on the streets
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said he does not think it is helpful for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful protests while police forces have been stretched to cope with several days of violent far-right disorder.
PA Media reports the Cabinet Office minister told viewers of Sky News:
Having spoken to police officers yesterday about the strain that they are under, the hours that they are working, I certainly don’t think it helps for politicians to be encouraging even more people out on our streets.
Nonetheless, we should make that distinction between that tradition of British peaceful protest – which is very much part of our politics – and the violent thuggery we’ve seen on our streets.
People who turn up outside with weapons are not coming to protest about anything – they are coming with criminal intent. We should be very clear about that distinction.”
Welcome and opening summary …
Good morning. Welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics. Here are your headlines …
A government minister has said it is “unhelpful” for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful demonstrations while the police are under strain from far-right violent disorder
Laws designed to counter misinformation are “not fit for purpose” and must be revisited after the spread of online falsehoods contributed to this month’s far-right riots, the mayor of London has said
Muslim NHS workers report rise in racist abuse since far-right riots began
The number of people applying to work or study in UK falls by more than a third
A leading rightwing thinktank has called for an end to the two-child limit on benefits in a move that will put further pressure on the Labour government to rethink its stance
It is Martin Belam with you for the next few hours. You can get in touch at martin.belam@theguardian.com.
