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Stones have been thrown as far-right and anti-racist demonstrators clashed in Plymouth amid a wave of violence sweeping the UK.
The protesters clashed as campaign group Stand Up To Racism and a “stop the boats” rally met at Guildhall Square in Plymouth this evening.
Devon and Cornwall Police also said violence had been carried out against its officers and a riot van had been damaged during the confrontation.
It comes as almost 400 people have been arrested over the mob violence spreading across the UK, with the prime minister setting up a “standing army” of specialist police officers to deal with further attacks.
Sir Keir Starmer has held an emergency Cobra meeting after far-right mobs carried out racist attacks and set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and Tamworth.
Meanwhile, Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia have all issued travel alerts to their nationals visiting the UK as far-right violence sweeps across the country.
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Children could face life-changing consequences for rioting, director of public prosecutions warns
Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, warned children who get involved in disorder could face life-long consequences.
“One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing,” he said.
“They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.
“For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders.
“Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.
“If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.”
List of immigration officers shared
Concern for the safety of lawyers has been voiced after a list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies were shared as targets for gatherings in the coming days.
A message believed to have been widely shared on chat groups lists addresses for immigration law specialists and advice organisations across England, and invites people to “mask up” if they go.
Tell Mama, a group monitoring Islamophobia in the UK, said it had alerted police and counter-terrorism to the “far-right threats”.
Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson condemned the violence which has already taken place, and said they have “serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our members” after the list was shared giving “targets for further protest and violence this week”.
He described such gatherings as a “direct assault on our legal profession” and therefore a “direct assault on our democratic values”.
Arrests on going in Plymouth, police say
Devon and Cornwall Police said “arrests are ongoing” after a police van was damaged and officers were met with “a level of violence” during demonstrations in Plymouth.
In a post on social media, the force said: “We have seen a level of violence towards officers in Plymouth and a police van has been damaged.
“We are taking action against individuals who are intent on criminality. Arrests are ongoing.”
Devon police issue update
Crowds and police clash in Plymouth
Stones have been thrown as far-right and anti-racist demonstrators clashed in Plymouth amid a wave of violence sweeping the UK.
The protesters clashed as campaign group Stand Up To Racism and a “stop the boats” protest met at Guildhall Square in Plymouth this evening.
Devon and Cornwall Police also said violence had been carried out against its officers and a riot van had been damaged during the confrontation.
How a few Twitter posts on Elon Musk’s X helped fan the flames of unrest and rioting across the UK
People inciting disorder online ‘can be as guilty as rioters’, legal expert says
Anyone who posted on social media assisting or encouraging the disorder on Britain’s streets in recent days could be prosecuted over the violence, even if they were were not at the scene, a legal expert has warned.
Mark Jones, partner at law firm Payne Hicks Beach, said individuals “do not need to be present when the crime itself is carried out, yet can be as guilty as the person who commits the crime itself”.
The warning comes as Sir Keir Starmer said anyone whipping up violence online will face “the full force of the law”.
Letters: Far-right thugs holding British flags should be charged with treason
Pictured: Southport vigil
London mayor pays tribute to Southport victims
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has paid tribute to the three children killed in Southport and hit out at “far-right agitators” causing violence across the country.
Mr Khan said: “My thoughts remain with all those affected by the abhorrent attack in Southport last week. The rioting and violence we have seen across the country in the last few days has been utterly shocking.
“There is simply no place in our society for the violence, racism and Islamophobia we have witnessed – disorder fuelled by a toxic combination of far-right agitators and online disinformation.”
Source: independent.co.uk
