UK riots: Starmer expects 'heavy' sentences

A week after the start of the riots blamed on ; on the far right, many suspects paraded in court in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expecting “heavy” sentences.

The day after Another evening marked by incidents, notably in Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Plymouth (southern England), the day was punctuated by the legal consequences of the 400 or so arrests that have taken place in recent days.

According to the British prosecutor's office, around 100 charges have already been laid.

After a new crisis meeting, the second in two days, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who once headed the prosecution service in England and Wales, said he expected “heavy” sentences to be handed down against the rioters by the end of the week. “That would send a very powerful message to anyone involved, whether directly or online,” that their case would be dealt with “within a week” and that “no one should be involved in this disorder,” he stressed, promising “safety” to the population.

Justice Secretary Heidi Alexander said Tuesday morning that a total of 6,000 police officers specialising in maintaining order would be mobilised and that 567 prison places that would have become available “later this month” would be freed up.

– Fears of further violence –

Faced with the increase in calls for demonstrations on Wednesday, the police fear further clashes.

In London, they warned that they would use “all available powers, tactics and tools to prevent further scenes of disorder”.

“We are aware of events planned by groups who sow hatred and division,” said Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, who is responsible for policing operations, in a statement. the order.

The first violence broke out last Tuesday, against a backdrop of partly denied rumours about the profile of the suspect in the murder of three girls in a knife attack in Southport, in the north-west of England. He had been presented online as a Muslim asylum seeker. The 17-year-old was actually born in Cardiff, Wales, and, according to British media, his family is of Rwandan origin.

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Clashes have since broken out in a dozen cities, and over the weekend, hotels housing asylum seekers and mosques were targeted.

Beyond the violence itself, authorities are paying close attention to content circulating on social media, which has been blamed for the worst riots in the UK since the 2011 shooting of mixed-race Mark Duggan by police in north London.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with inciting racial hatred over Facebook posts, according to prosecutors.

Two people have been arrested for “racially aggravated harassment” over posts calling for protests outside a hotel falsely advertised as housing asylum seekers, police said.

Tommy Robinson, a British far-right figure accused by authorities of stirring up violence using his X account, is in the crosshairs.

He should “be very careful about the language he uses and really should be concerned about what he has said so far,” Stephen Parkinson, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales, a position formerly held by Keir, warned on ITV. Starmer.

– Tense stand-off –

Monday evening was marred by more violent incidents.

In Belfast (Northern Ireland), the police spoke of “violence, racist attacks” and “racial insults”, and a man in his fifties was seriously injured after an attack motivated by hatred.

For several hours, the police were the target of Molotov cocktails and throwing of bricks or pieces of concrete, according to the Northern Irish police, including a Land Rover 4X4 which was set on fire after being doused with petrol, without however causing any injuries.

Restaurateur Luqman Khan clears debris outside his establishment in Middlesbrough (north-east England), August 5, 2024 © AFP – Yelim LEE

A 15-year-old boy suspected of taking part in the incidents has been arrested.

In Plymouth (south-west England), a tense face-off between the far right and counter-protesters, separated by the police. Six people were arrested and several police officers were slightly injured, according to the police.

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