Thugs who engage in criminal disorder on the streets will “pay the price”, the Government has said, amid warnings that further violence is likely in the coming days.
Towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland saw clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters on Saturday, with police officers attacked and injured and a number of arrests made, with many more promised.
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”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer 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.
Police in Liverpool (James Speakman/PA)
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 on Sunderland on Friday evening.
A protest in Sunderland city centre (Scott Heppell/PA)
In Liverpool there were 11 arrests and a number of officers injured, with one being hit on the head by a chair.
Another officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.
The Liverpool Echo reports the Spellow Hub, a library which reopened last year and provides support for people of all abilities to gain education and a path to employment, was also lit on fire.
In Hull there were at least four arrests, three police officers injured and shops looted and burned after a mob attacked a hotel housing asylum seekers.
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.
A vehicle is set alight in Belfast (David Young/PA)
In Bristol, police made 14 arrests because of violent disorder in the city centre which Avon and Somerset Police described as “completely unacceptable”.
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.”