Rowley: police and communities together ‘defeated the challenges that we’ve seen’
The Metropolitan police commissioner has described Wednesday evening as a “successful operation” and said that communities and police working togehter
In his statement Mark Rowley he said:
It was a massive policing operation. I’m really pleased with how it went. We put thousands of officers on the streets, and I think the show of force from the police, and frankly, the show of unity from communities together, defeated the challenges that we’ve seen, and it went up very peacefully last night.
He added that there were “a couple of locations where local criminals turned out to try and create a bit of antisocial behavior and we arrested a few of them” but he concluded:
It was a very successful night, and the fears of sort of extreme right disorder were abated. So, a successful operation, thanks to communities and police.
Key events
Northern Ireland’s MLAs are returning to Stormont today to debate the violence that has affected Belfast over the last few nights.
The SDLP have posted an image from outside the assembly, with the message “SDLP representatives are standing with members of other political parties, trade unions and civic society groups at Stormont today. The racist attacks, intimidation and oppression of this week do not represent our society. We will not give into it.”
SDLP representatives are standing with members of other political parties, trade unions and civic society groups at Stormont today.
The racist attacks, intimidation and oppression of this week do not represent our society. We will not give into it. pic.twitter.com/ldyXv8BDFB
— The SDLP (@SDLPlive) August 8, 2024
Three people have been arrested after protests in Hampshire on Wednesday, according to Hampshire constabulary. PA Media reports they include an 18-year-old from Eastleigh and a 17-year-old from Portsmouth.
In Manchester a man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with violent disorder after disturbances outside a hotel in Manchester which was being used to house asylum seekers.
The Law Society of England and Wales has said threats against lawyers who have supported migrants “were an attack on our democratic values”.
PA Media reports that in a statement, its president Nick Emmerson said:
We are continuing to support our members and have been contacting the solicitors’ firms and advice agencies on the target list to ensure they are safe following the planned riots yesterday.
We thank the UK government and the police for their efforts and support in recent days to keep solicitors and legal advice centres safe. The threats have been incredibly distressing for those targeted.
We also commend those in the community who came out to peacefully defend their local area and businesses last night.
These threats against our legal profession were an attack on our democratic values. Now is the time for our country and our leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law. They must ensure that all those who have committed crimes in recent days face swift justice.
Siân Berry, the recently elected Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion, has been speaking to LBC about her experience last night during the anti-racism protest in Brighton which she attended.
She told listeners “it was incredibly heartening to see so much togetherness, leadership from people from Brighton, and we saw that right across the country as well. People were absolutely determined to put themselves in a position of defending these targets that had been rumoured on the internet.”
“It really gave me enormous heart that there is this feeling in the country, and that it provides such a deterrent to the far right. Hopefully they’ll realise they are a tiny minority. The vast majority of people in the country are anti-racist.”
Berry went on to say that she was concerned that “we have seen far too many young people, very young people, drawn into this current wave of racist violence” and that what was required was “genuine investment from the government in society, and building community cohesion.”
As part of her media round this morning, policing minister Diana Johnson appeared live from Westminster on GB News, in a segment during which she was adamant that there was no such things as “two-tier policing” in the UK, and said that such comments were “hugely wrong” and “irresponsible” to make at this time.
Asked about accusations of two-tier policing, she told viewers:
First of all, there is no two-tier policing. Policing in this country is done without fear or favour. I want to be very clear about that.
And I think it’s hugely wrong at this stage to be making those comments. It is irresponsible to say that. We need to get behind the police.
And the government have been very clear. The police have our full support in dealing with this criminality and violence on our streets.
They have a very difficult job to do, and that kind of comment is completely wrong. And it makes me incredibly angry at this stage when our police are facing this level of disorder that someone would make those comments.
In a separate segment of the interview it was put to Johnson that people coming out to attend anti-racist rallies “almost becomes vigilantism” and “makes it much harder for the police”. She said in reply:
What we were saying in government yesterday was encouraging people not to go on these counter protests. We wanted the police to be able to do their job and dealing with some of the incidents that we knew were possibly going to happen last evening.
Clearly, some people, as they have the right to do, came out to peacefully protest. And that’s a tradition in this country, isn’t it?
Johnson said:
I think that what we saw last night were the vast majority the law abiding people of this country expressing a view that we live in a tolerant Britain, we are law abiding people. We do not like to see this disorder, this violence, this criminality on our streets.
So I think it’s the public revulsion at what happened, the police being on our streets providing that security and safety, and then the swift justice. I think it’s a combination of things that makes me cautiously optimistic about how this is now being dealt with.
Libby Brooks
Libby Brooks is the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent
Scotland’s first minister John Swinney has called for “vigilance” as he warned that faith communities in Scotland are experiencing “a great deal of fear and anxiety as a consequence of what they’re observing in other parts of the United Kingdom”.
In a lengthy interview on BBC Radio Scotland, Swinney said that there were “comprehensive, intelligence-led” police plans in place to deal with similar “protests” advertised on social media across the country in the coming weeks, and that the courts will use swift justice plans already in place from Cop26 should rioting occur in Scotland.
After convening a gathering of faith leaders yesterday, Swinney said that both Muslim and Jewish representatives were feeling “acutely anxious”.
“I was able to reassure them by the very clear political leadership in Scotland that believes that community cohesion is an important foundation of our society. I will use my office as first minister and I’ll work with other political parties to make it clear that this country has absolutely no tolerance of bigotry and violence and hatred and Islamophobia and antisemitism. We just won’t have it in Scotland.”
He said that Police Scotland were right to “stamp on” misinformation, after Tommy Robinson attempted to weaponise a stabbing in Stirling at the weekend by suggesting a Muslim was involved, which was completely wrong.
Five overnight arrests in Belfast as Police Service of Northern Ireland requests reinforcements
Rory Carroll
Rory Carroll is the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has requested reinforcements from Great Britain to bolster its response to consecutive nights of disorder in Belfast.
The force submitted a request for additional officers from across the UK to the National Police coordination Centre on Wednesday amid recurring disturbances since Saturday.
Police arrested five men on Wednesday night after a crowd in east Belfast set bins alight and threw missiles at officers.
The request for reinforcements exposed a force that was overstretched, underfunded and at “breaking point”, said Liam Kelly, chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland. “Due to successive deficit budgets, we are already without ten level one public order crews – two units of fifty highly trained officers – which adds enormous pressure on to the remaining specialist units.”
In a YouTube message the PSNI chief Jon Boutcher told the Muslim community that officers will be “standing in harm’s way” to protect them. “It’s clear to me you are living in fear … and I want to assure you: we will deal with it.”
Several owners of shops that have been attacked have complained that police came too late.
Ministers met at the Stormont executive on Thursday ahead of a recall of the assembly, which is interrupting a summer break to discuss the crisis. “These people that are involved in violent activity do not speak for us, never have and never will,” said Michelle O’Neill, the first minister.
Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales, has said she is “incredibly proud” of the people of Bristol for their anti-racism demonstration last night, and called on the Labour government to put forward a new strategy against Islamophobia.
In a statement on social media, the recently elected MP for Bristol Central said:
I was incredibly proud to see the people of Bristol come out last night to say that racism and hatred aren’t welcome in our city. I know that the violence we’ve seen in recent days has made many members of our community, particularly Muslims, people of colour and those seeking asylum, feel fearful and unsafe.
Last night’s scenes of peace and unity are a much needed reminder that the vast majority of us care about our communities, and abhor everything that the far-right stand for.
The people of Bristol have shown real leadership, and I hope the government will follow suit. The prime minister should make it a priority to agree a strategy to counter Islamophobia at all levels in society and online, as well as putting real new investment in supporting community cohesion.
I was incredibly proud to see the people of Bristol come out last night to say that racism and hatred aren’t welcome in our city.
I know that the violence we’ve seen in recent days has made many members of our community, particularly Muslims, people of colour and those seeking…
— Carla Denyer (@carla_denyer) August 8, 2024
Fellow Green MP, Ellie Chowns, who represents North Herefordshire, said on social media:
I’m so heartened that communities across the UK have come together to stand against racism, show solidarity and oppose discrimination. Our country must not be divided by those (including some politicians) who scapegoat and spread lies and hatred. The UK has shown: we are better than that.
I’m so heartened that communities across the UK have come together to stand against racism, show solidarity & oppose discrimination.
Our country must not be divided by those (incl some politicians) who scapegoat & spread lies & hatred.
The UK has shown: we are better than that.
— Ellie Chowns (@EllieChowns) August 8, 2024
Five more men have been charged following disorder across Manchester at the weekend, Greater Manchester police said. PA Media reports four have been charged with violent disorder and one with criminal damage.
Merseyside police said two more men had been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in Southport. It brings the total number arrested for disorder in Southport and Liverpool to 44.
Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth and former shadow prisons minister, has added her voice to those praising London’s police and population for a mostly peaceful night of anti-racist demonstration in the capital.
On social media she reposted a video clip of comments by Met commissioner Mark Rowley, and added her own words:
A huge thank you to all the police and emergency services across London who were on hand to keep us all safe yesterday. From those deployed on the street, to those in senior leadership position we saw an extremely proactive response yesterday.
As the commissioner rightly said the unity we saw from London’s communities yesterday and the work to reassure everyone made a huge difference. I’m keeping in close contact with the police, council and faith groups. We will not allow this to divide us in Hounslow.