UK Riots Cause Disorder; Cooper Said Thugs “Will Pay"

Several people were arrested after UK riots that caused disorder all across the country yesterday. A warning is also generated that further disturbances might arise in future, for which the police and common public have been cautioned.

The riots included severe clashes between the anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protestors. The uproar occurred in dozens of towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland in which police officers were attacked and injured.

(Also read: Police Deployed In Riots In Belfast, Between Anti-Islam And Anti-Racism Protests)

With more protests in the forecast, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the clashes “will pay the price” and that “criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets”.

The cities and towns that became victims of UK riots are Hull, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent and Belfast. Numerous police officers were injured in the process of calming down the angry mob.

The police observed that the riot people stopped the firefighters from approaching the fire. They were not letting the firefighters gain control over the situation and tried to attack their staff as well. In return, they shattered one of the cab’s windows.

For example, in Liverpool, not only was public property damaged but also community facilities were set on fire by the riot. Merseyside Police witnessed that 300 people were involved in the wrongdoings on the County Road, Walton, that caused massive unwanted disorder.

Moreover, the Spellow Lane Library Hub has residents of deprived communities. They are struggling hard for their lives and to make ends meet. They faced the most damage on the ground floor by these riots.

Government’s response on UK riots

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed that the police must take all the actions possible to stop UK riots and take necessary steps against the “extremists” who are trying to sow the seed of hate by intimidating the communities and certain groups. The Prime Minister is taking action and holding talks with the ministers to stop the unruly disorder within the region.

It is known that the violent accidents have predominantly started to occur after the three girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Tuesday. Dozens of arrests were made in the riots whose footage was caught by CCTV in the area and floating on social media. The footage has been removed for now so that further unrest is avoided.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is on her heels that the justice system is prepared to serve justice right away, especially to those who initiated the turmoil. Keeping the peace at stake in the killings is not acceptable and for that, courts are sitting “24 hours a day as they did for the 2011 riots”, a Downing Street spokesperson cited.

Culture secretary, Lisa Nandy confirmed that anyone attacking the police should be regretful of their actions. Police are the protectors of society whereas the people involved in riots are unable to see the truth. She wrote on X, “I cannot thank our local police enough for everything they’re doing to keep people safe”.

Nandy knew that police were always the first people to reach the crime scene, and the same happened this time as well. They jump into danger themselves to keep everyone else safe. It is their duty to do so, however, the public’s actions are shameful, Nandy asserted.

Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly, wrote on X, “Violence is not acceptable. Northern Ireland must always be a place that protects the right to protest, the right to have a view and to express it”.

Little-Pengelly further added that everyone does have the right to protest but in a peaceful way. Violence is not an option. Freedom of expression does not mean that hate and violence remain a part of it, she emphasised.