 "Police officers stand guard as counter-protesters push against the police cordon on the day of a protest against illegal immigration, in Bolton, UK, August 4, 2024. Reuters")
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently announced the creation of a “standing army” of specialist police officers aimed at addressing widespread riots and far-right violence that have erupted across the UK.
This initiative, intended to bolster the country’s ability to swiftly respond to public disorder, follows an emergency COBRA meeting attended by senior ministers and police chiefs. The new force will operate similarly to existing “mutual aid” arrangements, where police officers are deployed to different regions to assist with major events.
However, this “standing army” will be a more structured and readily available unit, designed to respond quickly to emerging threats.
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What is behind this move?
The recent violence has been partly fuelled by misinformation circulating on social media, leading to a series of attacks on mosques and immigration centers. The unrest began after a stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, which tragically resulted in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to several others.
Rumours falsely claimed that the attacker – Axel Rudakubana, was a recent immigrant, igniting a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment and far-right activity.
Starmer addressed the nation, stating, “Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest. It is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities. The full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part in these activities.”
What will the “standing army” do?
The “standing army” will consist of specialist public order officers who can be quickly mobilised to areas experiencing unrest. This measure comes as existing police forces have struggled to contain the scale of the violence, which has spread to multiple cities including London, Liverpool, Rotherham, and Belfast.
The initiative is not a military intervention but an enhancement of the police’s capability to manage large-scale disturbances.
Starmer said, “We will have the officers we need, where we need them. The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, and some have appeared in court this morning.”
What about the piling court cases?
The UK government’s response also includes a push for swift justice for those involved in the riots. The backlog in the Crown and Magistrates courts, exacerbated by a decline in court staff and resources, presents a significant challenge.
However, the government is determined to expedite the legal process. Courts are prepared to handle cases quickly, with early identification and sentencing of offenders.
Cassia Rowland, a senior researcher at the Institute for Government, told AP, “That’s not a problem you can fix overnight, and it’s going to be difficult, I think, for the system to cope with the influx of demand that we’re likely to see as a result of this disorder.”
Speaking to Sky News, Tana Adkin KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association said, “The system is already working at maximum capacity.”
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Despite these challenges, the government has made it clear that those responsible for the violence will face severe penalties. Deputy District Judge Liam McStay, presiding over cases in Belfast, denied bail to two men involved in the riots, asserting, “The events at the weekend were absolutely disgraceful: a concerted and deliberate attempt to undermine public order and to then domineer the community, and there were racist elements to it.”
How will the UK tackle misinformation?
A significant aspect of the unrest has been the role of social media in spreading misinformation and inciting violence. The UK government has criticised platforms for not doing enough to prevent the spread of harmful content.
There have been calls for tighter regulations and more proactive measures by social media companies to curb the dissemination of false information and hate speech.
UK Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated, “Social media has provided a platform for this hate,” indicating that the government might push for more stringent controls on online content.
The controversy surrounding X owner, Elon Musk, who commented, “Civil war is inevitable,” has also drawn criticism from the government.
Starmer’s office condemned the statement, stating that such remarks do not reflect the sentiments of the broader UK population.
Far-right mob vs. vulnerable communities
The violent incidents have sparked a wide range of reactions from political figures and community leaders. Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire, expressed his horror at the events, stating, “We saw a violent far-right mob come down to attack 240 of the most vulnerable people in our society and try and burn them in the hotel in which they were living. That is not OK, and there is no excuse for it.”
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declared, “There is no justification – none – for taking this action and all right-minded people should be condemning this sort of violence. People in this country have a right to be safe and yet, we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric.”
In response to the violence, the UK Home Office announced additional funding of £29 million for the protection of mosques and other vulnerable community centers. This measure aims to provide immediate security enhancements to safeguard against further attacks.
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With inputs from agencies