UK riot thugs face up to 10 years in prison under government crackdown
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said thugs taking part in disorder have a ’prison place waiting for them’ and could face the maximum 10 year sentence for taking part in riots
The Government has warned rioters could be locked up for up to 10 years as police forces brace for a fresh wave of violence.
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said thugs taking part in disorder have "a prison place waiting for them" and could face the maximum 10 year sentence for rioting.
More than 400 suspects have now been arrested in the wake of violence around the country. Officers are ready for further disorder across the country as they prepare for at least 30 potential gatherings on Wednesday, police sources said.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Mirror: “These cowardly thugs have set about on a campaign of violence, intimidation and fear and they will be stopped. It is not protest. It is violent, criminal disorder.
"These thugs do not represent Britain, and we will never let them be our voice. The Criminal Justice system is acting quickly, with prosecutors working round the clock to ensure those involved are charged. The police have my unwavering support to ensure they have everything they need to put a stop to this mindless violence.”
Keir Starmer summoned ministers and police chiefs to another emergency Cobra meeting on Tuesday night as towns across the UK braced for another wave of riots after a chilling list of targets was circulated online.
Far-right groups have been plotting to bring more fear to the streets by using messaging apps like Telegram. The terrifying list names immigration lawyers, refugee and advice centres, to head for and includes an arson manual and tips on making petrol bombs.
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander warned thugs there was a ’prison place waiting for them’ ( Image: MDM)
One post said: "Wednesday night lads. They won’t stop coming until you tell them...no more immigration 8pm. Mask up spread this as far and wide as you can." While another post threatened: "Bring on the Celts".
Ms Alexander warned: "We will make sure that anyone who is given a custodial sentence as a result of the riots and disorder, there will be a prison place waiting for them."
Judges will decide the severity of the sentences, she said, adding: "Anyone watching our television screens and seeing the images that you and I have seen of this violent disorder, the racist attacks, the dangerous extremism, will realise that in all likelihood there are some very serious offences that have been committed."
Pressed on how long sentences could be, she said: “Ten years, seven years, five years for some of the offences that I’ve just spoken about.”
The maximum custodial sentence for rioting is 10 years. Ms Alexander said the courts "could possibly" begin sitting through into the night and at weekends to swiftly prosecute thugs involved in the chaos.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said: "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."
He warned that children as young as 11 have been caught up in the disorder, risking life-changing consequences if they get a criminal record. The DPP said the involvement of so many children and teenagers in the unrest was "deeply disturbing".
He added: "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."
Thousands of extra cops have been brought in and where there’s credible specific intelligence they will be put in place, sources said. A message on encrypted platform Telegram reveals 38 towns and cities potentially facing ugly clashes on their streets.
Out of a total of 18,000 "Level 2" trained riot officers on Police Support Units across England and Wales around 30% have now been deployed, totalling 5,950. Other tactics being employed include the use of facial recognition technology to identify suspects, online monitoring and specialist teams in each force area responsible for hunting down the thugs.
Counter-terror police are investigating if any terror offences might have been committed. Police chiefs believe the worst violence has already been seen and expect another day or two of violence but are prepared if it continues.
A police source said they were ready to respond to gatherings and intelligence has been "fairly solid". The source said: "Wednesday is going to be a busy day. We are assessing what is credible and what isn’t but we have a lot more resources stood-up now than we did at the weekend."
The source said it was hard to predict the numbers turning up in advance. "Some is planned but also a lot is sporadic in terms of local people seeing stuff online and turning up out of the blue. It’s quite a nuanced picture."
It follows shocking scenes across England which saw far-right thugs trying to set fire to a mosque in Southport, and two immigration hotels, one in Rotherham and a second Tamworth, Staffordshire. So far dozens of police officers have been injured after being pelted with bricks, urine, fireworks, fence panels and bollards.
The rioters in Staffordshire used petrol bombs to start a blaze inside the building, which the police said "put lives at risk" while in Rotheram plastic wheelie bins were filled with cardboard and set alight.
The threats were shared on Telegram, Facebook and Twitter /X with one post getting more than 125,000 views within two hours. Telegram users have shared instructions on how to make homemade petrol bombs, and an "arson manual."
It is feared the violence could continue on Wednesday with a number of regions in the Midlands and North West mentioned.
Mr Starmer summoned the Cabinet or a meeting, where he condemned the "violent disorder" gripping Britain’s streets. The PM told ministers: "99.9% of people across the country want their streets to be safe and to feel safe in their communities, and we will take all necessary action to bring the disorder to an end.”
Religious leaders united to condemn the violent scenes. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "They defile the flag they wrap themselves in."
He added: "Protest is good and is right and is fundamental to all our freedoms. Peaceful protest will have a ten thousand times impact this violence is having. Violence turns people away from your cause."
Mr Welby joined Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, and Dr Sayed Razawi, director-general of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, to warn the “hatred, violence and vandalism” seen during riots was a “stain on our national moral conscience”.
Pressure continues to mount on the Prime Minister to summon MPs back from their summer break as the Northern Ireland Assembly agreed to meet on Thursday to discuss disorder.
Labour MP and mother of the House, Diane Abbott, told Radio 4: "Calling Parliament back from recess has always been about major national issues and where you have violence nationwide, violence as serious as this, violence which shows no sign of abating, I call that a serious national issue."
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