The day so far
If you’re just joining us, here are the day’s main developments:
Key events
Man arrested after video emerges of Labour councillor calling for throats to be ‘cut’
Police have arrested a man in his 50s in south-east London on suspicion of encouraging murder after a video emerged of a Labour councillor calling for far-right protesters’ throats to be “cut”.
The man has also been arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act following the incident in Kent on Wednesday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, in which the original video was linked, the force said:
Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London.
He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act. He is in custody at a south London police station.
A Labour spokesperson confirmed that Ricky Jones, a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, has been suspended by the party in relation to the video.
UPDATE: Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in South East London.
He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act.
He is in custody at a south London police station. https://t.co/YVuXRStZzd
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 8, 2024
A teenager who joined riots in Hartlepool while out celebrating his 18th birthday has been detained for 20 months, PA Media reports.
Bobby Shirbon, of Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, took part in two consecutive nights of disorder in the town, Teesside Crown Court heard.
He was seen smashing windows during violent scenes on July 31 – the day he turned 18 – while part of a group that was throwing bricks and bottles at police.
The defendant then threw beer bottles at a police van while wearing a balaclava the following night as part of further disorder involving a smaller group of youths.
Shirbon, who pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder, said “it’s okay, everybody else is doing it” when he was arrested, it was said.
A statement from Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster said the riots had cost the region an estimated £300,000.
The day so far
If you’re just joining us, here are the day’s main developments:
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, told reporters this afternoon the youngest person arrested during the violent disorder over the last few days was 11-year-old.
PA Media report he said “I think to have conversations with young people, children, teenagers over the course the next few days is really, really important. Don’t get involved, don’t go near this stuff – it could change the prospects for the rest of your life.”
The Metropolitan police in London have issued a statement to say they “are aware of the significant public concern around” a video being shared that appears to show Labour councillor Ricky Jones calling for the throats of rioters to be cut.
The party has suspended him, with a spokesperson describing his comments as “completely unacceptable”.
The police said “Officers are investigating as a matter of urgency.”
In Wales, the Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has been asked during a Q&A session what he thought had brought about the situation that had led to violent disorder over the last few days in Engladn and Northern Ireland.
In a message posted by the party’s social media channel in English he is quoted as saying:
Recent racist riots are the result of decades of allowing racism and hatred to develop openly online, in the press and by some politicians. We all have a duty to take responsibility and come together to show that there is no place for racism in our communities.
In the accompanying video clip, ap Iorwerth said in Welsh:
Certainly, there’s influence from the owners of newspapers, as was true on their influence on the Brexit vote. By repeating the same mantra day after day, week after week, “Stop the boats” has driven this.
From politicians up to the level of the prime minister and down, encouraging people to point the finger at others, and put the blame on them for the failures of political leaders to get to grips with the poverty that’s been allowed to grow in our communities. Communities that have been forgotten about by political leaders.
As well as the press we need to remember that we’ve moved on to the 21st century and to the age of social media. The responsibility on the shoulders of Elon Musk at the moment for allowing Twitter or X to turn into the beast that it is, is something that the international community needs to get to grips with. It was good to hear the prime minister of Ireland talking about the steps they want to take.
There is a reason this has been allowed to happen. Yes, there is some right wing sentiment among the population, but other people have now been pulled in, and have been compelled to do this by people who should know better.
Shockat Adam, the recently elected independent MP for Leicester South, has posted a message praising the “immense sense of community” and commending “the swift action taken by our justice system”, while also cautioning against online misinformation.
In a post on social media, Adam said:
The British community has spoken! We saw an immense sense of community yesterday with people of all backgrounds standing shoulder to shoulder to send a strong message to those who seek to divide us. Hope not hate.
I want to commend the swift action taken by our justice system to ensure those bringing violence to our street are processed quickly, sending a clear message.
However, I stress the importance of keeping yourself safe when you are out and about. Report any incidents to police swiftly.
It has never been more important to be mindful of the information shared online, we have a responsibility to avoid spreading misinformation or disinformation.
Moving forward we need to have real and honest conversations with all communities to tackle the elephant in the room and address how we can move forward. There is much education needed and much to do, until we address it, this will continue to keep rearing its head.
Director of Public Prosecutions: ‘By the hour, further charges are being authorised’
The Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales has said that “By the hour, further charges are being authorised” against people who took part in far-right anti-immigration riots across England over the last few days.
PA Media reports that Stephen Parkinson, who has been in the role since November 2023, said:
By the hour, further charges are being authorised, significant sentences of imprisonment are being passed and justice continues to be served after an extremely difficult period for the country.
Our prosecutors are continuing to work swiftly and effectively in collaboration with the police.
I am immensely proud of the way that the criminal justice system has responded so quickly and well, ensuring that the rule of law prevails and that justice is done and seen to be done.
Police chief admits they were ‘nervous’ about counter-protests, are expecting 20 potential gatherings tonight
About 20 potential gatherings and three counter-protests are planned for Thursday, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), PA Media reports.
More than 160 demonstrations were planned for Wednesday but only about 36 took place with “minimal disorder and only a handful of arrests”, the body said.
In a media briefing the NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: “From a policing point of view, I must admit we were nervous about all of the counter-activity, if you want to call it that, purely because it adds to the scale of what we’re dealing with.
“I think what we saw last night was a loud and clear message from communities that they’d had enough, that there’s no place for hate, that there’s no place for violence.”
Our political correspondent Eleni Courea has more on this story of Elon Musk using the social media platform he owns to spread fake news and misinformation again.
Labour MP Lauren Edwards has apologised for what she called a “significant error of judgment” after now deleted social media messages from between 2009 and 2011 emerged.
In the messages, the recently elected MP for Rochester and Strood made derogatory remarks about Estonians, a halal restaurant and parliamentary cleaners. Between 2008 and 2013, Edwards worked as a parliamentary researcher for a series of Labour MPs including Lisa Nandy.
In a statement Edwards said:
I have recently been made aware of a small number of tweets that I posted on Twitter from over a decade ago, which I now deeply regret.
They were a significant error of judgment on my part, and I apologise wholeheartedly.
Since becoming a local councillor and more recently an MP, I have seen first-hand the importance of bringing communities together and working with tolerance and respect for all in our society.
I pledge to use my platform to continue that important work and dedicate myself to serving all residents of Rochester and Strood.
Earlier a Labour councillor was suspended after video which appeared to show him calling for rioters’ throats to be cut was shared on social media.
Man jailed 18 months for violent disorder after attending anti-fascist protest
A 29-year-old man who attended a protest against fascism in Plymouth has been jailed for 18 months after throwing missiles and swinging his motorbike helmet to knock a boy off his bike.
Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, of Tavistock admitted a charge of violent disorder.
The defendant’s legal team said Skeaping was “against fascism”, “abhors any form of racism” and had lost his employment at a bicycle company as a result of the incident.
The prosecution said the man’s own GoPro camera had captured him throwing a full 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola and a rock.
PA Media reports Judge Robert Linford, sentencing, said “you came to protest and to do so peacefully, but things rapidly deteriorated”.
Police in Nottingham said they made no arrests during a protest held just outside the city centre on Wednesday evening. PA Media reports Nottinghamshire police said patrols will continue in the city over the weekend, but confirmed they were not acting on specific intelligence.
