More far-right rioters are facing potential prison sentences today as over 1,000 suspects have now been arrested.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said in its latest update that 1,024 had been arrested and 575 charged following days of fascist violence across England and Northern Ireland.
Those arrested include a 69-year-old accused of vandalism in Liverpool and a 11-year-old boy in Belfast.
Amongst those due in court today is Liam Ryan, 28, who cried at his initial hearing after admitting to being part of a racist mob that brutally attacked a black man in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens.
Yesterday, a man who looted cosmetics chain Lush during riots in Hull has pleaded guilty to violent disorder, burglary and racially aggravated criminal damage.
John Honey, 25, admitted three charges of burglary at Lush, the O2 store and Shoezone in the city on August 3. He also pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW and damaging nine other cars.
Honey’s sentencing hearing was adjourned after claims he asked a prison probation officer “if he wanted his autograph as he is famous and is all over social media”.
Over 1,000 arrested
Over 1,000 people have now been arrested for riot-related offences, the national policing body said.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said in its latest update that 1,024 had been arrested and 575 charged across the UK. Those arrested include a 69-year-old accused of vandalism in Liverpool and a 11-year-old boy in Belfast.
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Athena Stavrou14 August 2024 09:04
Riot-related hearings at court today
- Craig Tunmore, 37, of Sutton, and Danny Fournier, 41, of Lambeth, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court following Whitehall riots. Tunmore has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and Fournier has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening or insulting behaviour.
- Mark Bowen and Daniel Russell to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for violent disorder at a riot in Bristol on August 4.
- Julie Sweeney, 53, is due to appear at Chester Crown Court charged with sending communication threatening death or serious harm.
- Liam Ryan, 28, to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for being part of the group that attacked a black man in Manchester.
- Riley Adey, 19, and Reece Greenwood, 31, to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to violent disorder in Sunderland.
- Habeeb Khan to appear at Birmingham Crown Court accused of possessing an imitation AK-47, sending a communication threatening death or serious harm and harassment of a police officer.
Athena Stavrou14 August 2024 08:48
Youth charity calls for more investment to keep young people away from disorder
More investment in frontline youth work could help keep young people away from violence and counter misinformation, a sector leader has said as children as young as 12 were convicted over the summer riots.
Analysis by the PA news agency shows at least 50 youths under the age of 18 have been charged in connection with the nationwide disorder.
On Monday, two 12-year-old boys were convicted on charges of violent disorder, while Tuesday saw a 13-year-old girl plead guilty to the same charge.
Kayleigh Wainwright, from leading youth work charity UK Youth, said it is “really sad” to see children “caught up in this”, whether perpetrators, victims or witnesses to scenes of unrest.
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The director of youth sector innovation, whose career working with young people has spanned two decades, said those who committed crimes must take responsibility but voiced concern that children can be “more vulnerable”.
She told PA: “Of course those people, young or old, when they’re involved (in crime) need to take responsibility for that.
“But I think we see young people are more vulnerable when it comes to being manipulated with information, adults asking them to do things, being pushed to the front of these types of activities, and because they’re younger, maybe fitter, maybe more impressionable.
“In my career, I’ve never seen riots on this scale but it’s not unusual that young people would be involved in the ways I’ve said.”
Athena Stavrou14 August 2024 07:41
Labour MP Clive Lewis accused of trying to blame Israel for UK’s far-Right riots
Labour MP Clive Lewis is facing calls for his suspension over a tweet appearing to suggest Israel is to blame for the far-right riots that swept the UK last week.
The MP for Norwich South argued that the “inhumanity” shown towards Palestinians in Gaza has led to rising Islamophobia in the UK, causing campaigners to call for his suspension.
Labour Against Antisemitism has accused Mr Lewis of being highly irresponsible and has urged Sir Keir Starmer to expell him from the party. However, it is understood that no disciplinary action will be taken against the MP by party whips.
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Holly Evans14 August 2024 06:00
Woman named as first to share false Southport suspect rumour before riots says mistake ‘destroyed’ her
A British businesswoman accused of being the first person to share false information about the Southport killings of three girls has said the “mistake” has “destroyed” her.
Bernadette Spofforth is alleged to have fired off a tweet on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, wrongly claiming the stabbing suspect was an asylum seeker who came to the UK by boat hours after the three girls were killed.
The 55-year-old also shared an incorrect name for the boy accused of perpetrating attacks at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, in which three people died.
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Holly Evans14 August 2024 05:00
Nigel Farage could be investigated by police over riot social media posts, ex-terror boss suggests
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Farage could be investigated by police over riot posts, ex-terror boss suggests
A former counter-terrorism chief has hinted police could investigate Nigel Farage’s social media activity following riots across the UK. Neil Basu said authorities “will be looking at anybody who might have incited riots” during an interview with LBC on Tuesday (13 August). Presenter James O’Brien asked Mr Basu: “Nigel Farage’s social media activity – do you think that should be investigated?” Mr Basu replied: “I imagine my former colleagues are doing precisely that.” The Reform UK MP has previously doubled down on claims that he did not provoke rioting following the killings of three young girls in Southport on 29 July. “I’ve never been involved in violence, been involved in street protest, been involved in encouraging any of these things,” he told Talk TV on 8 August. The Independent has contacted Mr Farage for further comment in relation to Mr Basu’s interview.
Holly Evans14 August 2024 04:00
Man in England shirt who looted Lush and Shoezone during riots admits burglaries
A man who looted a cosmetics store, a phone shop, a shoe outlet and damaged cars during riots in Hull while wearing a shirt emblazoned with the England flag has pleaded guilty in court.
Honey also too part in an attack on a BMW carrying three Romanian men, targeted a garage leaving nine vehicles damaged, and pushed bins at police lines during the violence.
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Holly Evans14 August 2024 03:00
How effectively has Keir Starmer handled the riots? Join The Independent Debate
Holly Evans14 August 2024 02:00
How children as young as nine are being indoctrinated by the far-right – as revealed by former neo-Nazi
Children as young as nine are being radicalised by their far-right relatives, a reformed neo-Nazi has warned.
Nigel Bromage, who was involved in far-right groups for two decades but now runs a deradicalisation charity, told The Independent the youngest person that his organisation has supported was a boy who was using neo-Nazi references after being radicalised by his older brother.
Discussing the recent explosion of violence, he warned the far right is radicalising lay people to use as “pawns” to perpetrate violence and destruction.
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Holly Evans14 August 2024 01:00
Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat claims Starmer failed country over riots
Shadow minister Tom Tugendhat has accused Sir Keir Starmer of a “failure of leadership” in his handling of the disorder that swept through parts of Britain while branding Nigel Farage’s intervention “deeply irresponsible and dangerous”.
The Tory leadership hopeful claimed the Prime Minister “fell short” in the first test of his premiership, before also hitting out at the policing response in the wake of the unrest, suggesting officers had not acted “without fear or favour” during some counter-demonstrations.
In a far-ranging speech in Westminster on Tuesday, the shadow security minister suggested Sir Keir should have gone further, for example by holding daily Cobra meetings from the start, but instead chose to “run as if he was still in opposition”.
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Holly Evans14 August 2024 00:00