The government has affirmed its commitment to taking decisive action against individuals involved in criminal behavior during violent unrest across the UK, even if it means holding court sessions throughout the night.
This statement follows a warning from the government’s advisor on political violence and disruption, who suggested that extreme right-wing groups are likely receiving support from hostile nations to spread misinformation and fuel chaos.
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Minister for policing, Dame Diana Johnson, in an interview with Sky News, assured that the government is committed to providing the necessary resources to expedite the processing of those arrested.
She also confirmed that there is sufficient prison capacity to accommodate those who are convicted.
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“The prime minister has been very explicit in stating that all measures will be taken to ensure the expeditious processing of cases through our judicial system,” she stated.
“Individuals have already been apprehended and put in custody. It is crucial for us to send a clear message to the public – those perpetrating criminal acts on our streets will be held accountable.”
She also highlighted that the prime minister served as the director of public prosecutions during the 2011 riots, a period where courts operated 24/7, emphasizing his comprehension of the requirements for effective judicial processes.
“It’s imperative that individuals feel secure on their streets, particularly groups who face insecurity due to their ethnicity,” she added.
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A substantial number of individuals have been apprehended following violent disturbances in England and Northern Ireland on Saturday, with law enforcement cautioning of potential further unrest in the near future.
Police personnel were targeted and injured, with altercations occurring between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that those participating in these confrontations will face consequences, asserting that “violent criminal behavior has no place in British society”.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood informed officials that the entire judicial system is prepared to secure convictions expeditiously.
This week’s protests erupted subsequent to the tragic killing of three girls in Southport, which sparked a surge of false information about the suspect disseminated by extremist right-wing figures.
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Lord Walney, the government’s specialist in political violence and upheaval, conveyed to Sky News that the Southport calamity had been “exploited by far-right elements likely supported by adversarial states in fabricating and orchestrating misinformation to propagate fictitious narratives”.
He advocated for the government to “intensify” efforts in countering the dissemination of false details, and in his recent evaluation to the government, he proposed allocating additional resources to intelligence and security agencies.
“You will find propaganda hubs in locations like Russia and Iran consisting of Russian or Iranian citizens posing as British individuals with extreme stances either on the extreme right or left, whose primary objective is to generate false data and escalate it,” he mentioned.
“Such actions can produce a significant impact within this sphere.”
