Violent Disorder

The minister began by expressing condolences to the families of Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu, who tragically lost their lives in violent incidents around the Notting Hill carnival. The minister praised the swift action of the police in charging suspects in both cases, emphasizing that there is no place for such senseless violence on the streets. Turning to the violent disorder that occurred earlier in the summer, the minister recounted the horrific attack in Southport on July 29th, where three young girls lost their lives. The minister spoke of the bravery, compassion, and distress of the emergency services who responded to the incident, and noted that a suspect has been charged, with the investigation ongoing. However, the minister expressed outrage that in the hours following the Southport attack, the same Southport police were subjected to violent attacks from criminals and thugs, who pelted them with bricks and bottles, and even attacked a local mosque. The minister condemned this disgraceful disorder, stating that it was not a protest, but rather "thuggery, racism and crime" perpetrated by those with existing criminal convictions. The minister outlined the government's robust and swift response, including the deployment of over 40,000 officer shifts by public order officers, the Crown Prosecution Service's deployment of additional prosecutors, and the acceleration of new prison places. In total, around 1,280 people have been arrested, 800 charges have been made, and over 570 individuals have been brought before the courts. Looking ahead, the minister announced several key steps the government will take, including a review of the coordination and intelligence systems for public order policing, the recruitment of thousands more neighborhood police officers and community support officers, a rapid review of extremism, and strengthening the requirements for social media companies to take responsibility for harmful content. The minister acknowledged the horror felt by the country at the scenes of violence and disorder, but emphasized that the criminals and thugs do not represent Britain. Instead, the minister highlighted the many examples of decent people coming together to support each other and rebuild their communities, which serve as a message to the extremists that they do not speak for the nation.