Keir Starmer calls third emergency Cobra meeting over violent riots as cops brace for more protests in days
SIR Keir Starmer will chair a third emergency Cobra meeting with law enforcement officials today over the violent riots.
Following a visit to a mosque in Solihull, the PM said it was “important that we don’t let up”.
Police had expected more than 100 events on Wednesday night with 30 counter-demonstrations planned.
Shops were boarded up in many towns and cities over fears of rioting after a week of violent disorder which started in Southport, Merseyside, on July 30.
Sir Keir said: “Now it’s important that we don’t let up here and that’s why later on today I will have another Cobra meeting with law enforcement, with senior police officers, to make sure that we reflect on last night but also plan for the coming days.”
The Labour leader added that “the most important lesson” is the one which people sentenced to prison will learn after violent disorder over recent days.
The PM was asked by broadcasters about lessons learned and what the Government could do differently in the future.
He replied: “The most important lesson is for those involving themselves in disorder, because what we’ve seen is that those who’ve been arrested – now numbered in their hundreds, many have been charged, some already in court, and now a number of individuals sentenced to terms of imprisonment, that is a very important message to those involved in disorder.
“And I say it again, anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law.
“It’s important I repeat that because we need to make sure that in the coming days, we can give the necessary reassurance to our communities, many of whom – I’ve been talking to some this morning – are very anxious about the situation.”
Sir Keir spoke on a visit to the West Midlands after going to a mosque.
He said Wednesday night’s events turned out “much better than was expected” after many planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.
Asked whether he should engage with the underlying tensions over the issue of immigration, the PM said: “The first priority is safety and security of our communities, and yes, last night was much better than was expected, but we are not going to give up on our efforts here.
“That’s why it’s very important that I continue my discussions, co-ordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders, to make sure we’ve got the right officers in the right place, to keep pushing on the criminal justice response.
“I was very keen that we were able to demonstrate that if you’re involved in disorder, within days you will be in the criminal justice system and some people starting long terms of imprisonment.
“That needs to continue, and so that is my sole focus.”
He also said additional deployments of police officers and the quick sentencing of people involved in disorder were the reasons riots did not materialising on Wednesday night.
Sir Keir said: “Last night, I think the fact we didn’t see the disorder that was feared is because we had police deployed in numbers in the right places, giving reassurance to communities.
“We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years.
“That sent a very powerful message. But I also think that the work that’s been done jointly to reassure our communities is becoming more effective.”
He held a roundtable discussion with Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, members of the Muslim Community and Met Police officers who attended recent disorder.