Police brace for over 100 far-right rallies and 30 counter-protests tonight as 6,000 officers deployed across 41 forces
7 August 2024, 12:51 | Updated: 7 August 2024, 13:49
More than 100 areas are set to be targeted by far-right protesters in yet another evening of violence.
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The gatherings on Wednesday are expected to be across 41 police forces with thousands of officers on standby, LBC understands.
Immigration centres and lawyers' offices are anticipated to be the main focus of the protests.
However, officers could also be deployed to hotels housing asylum seekers.
A police source said: "Today is probably going to be the busiest day of the week, into the evening.
"Tonight, we think it's looking like a credible picture. We are preparing for activity across 41 forces."
Police chiefs have made clear they are going after criminals whether they throw a brick or send a tweet.
Starmer pledges to keep communities safe as police prepare for further violence
Cases are being built against "keyboard warriors" but sources have said police are also looking at influencers and organisers on the other side of the political spectrum.
Since Monday, almost 6,000 police officers have been mobilised to deal with the unrest, referred to Sir Keir as Britain's 'standing army'.
Of the 6,000 officers, 3,750 from the national policing reserve are on standby to be deployed locally and 2,000 are on standby to be deployed regionally and nationally.
The Met has sent hundreds of officers to Greater Manchester Police. Southeast forces have sent officers to the northeast and northwest as well.
It comes as the first of the UK rioters involved in bouts of violent disorder were jailed following the Southport killings.
Wednesday saw a number of people charged as part of the far-Right riots appear in court, with Derek Drummond, 58, given three years in prison, Declan Geiran was sentenced to two and a half years, and Liam Riley was jailed for 20 months.
James O'Brien challenges the logic of the riots
It comes after the PM reassured communities that "they will be safe" following a second emergency Cobra meeting on Tuesday evening.
Sir Keir said: "They will be safe. We're doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it's in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place.
"Obviously it's a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need, that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.
"But the message has to go to those that are involving themselves in this disorder, which is 'you're wrong, you shouldn't be doing it, you will feel the full force of the law', as I hope we're demonstrating with these swift prosecutions."
Rioters have been warned that they could face terror charges amid the "deeply disturbing" wave of disorder.
Britain's top prosecutor said he would consider it for those who plan "serious disruption" with the purpose of "advancing ideology".
"There are sentencing guidelines which indicate that many people who have been caught up in this disorder will face immediate imprisonment. There should be no doubt about that. They are going to prison," Stephen Parkinson said.
“We are willing to look at terrorism offences. I’m aware of at least one instance where that is happening.
“Where you have organised groups planning activity for the purposes of advancing an ideology... planning really, really serious disruption – then yes, we will consider terrorism offences.”
Ex-Met Commissioner reacts to Elon Musk's 'civil war' comments
Meanwhile, social media companies are under growing pressure to take more responsibility in preventing the spread of disinformation.
Social media companies need to "make a choice" between using their platforms for social good or social harm, minister for English devolution Jim McMahon earlier told LBC.
"These social media platforms have the potential to be a huge public good and public benefit in progressing democracy and ideas or they can become places of hate, of hostility, whipping up hate instead of finding solutions," Mr McMahon said.
"I’m afraid too many online platforms do not take their responsibilities seriously for the power that they do have."
Ex Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor said social media firms "should be policed vigorously".
He called for the implementation of a licensing system for the platforms operating in the UK.
It comes as X owner Elon Musk has been in a war of words with Keir Starmer over the escalation of violence.
Sir Keir slammed comments made by the billionaire businessman on Monday after he suggested "civil war is inevitable".
His spokesperson said there was "no justification for comments like that".
Musk has since shared a number of tweets questioning the police approach to the riots.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2024
A spokesperson for Ofcom said: “We're moving quickly to implement the Online Safety Act so we can enforce it as soon as possible. To do this, we are required to consult on codes of practice and guidance, after which the new safety duties on platforms will start to become enforceable.
"When the new duties are in force, around the end of this year, tech firms will have three months to assess the risk of illegal content on their platforms, and will then be required to take appropriate steps to stop it appearing, and act quickly to remove it when they become aware of it.
"If tech firms don’t comply, we will have a broad range of enforcement powers at our disposal. These include the power to impose significant financial penalties for breaches of the safety duties.
"We are speaking to relevant social media, gaming and messaging companies now about their responsibilities as a matter of urgency.
"Although platforms' new duties under the Online Safety Act do not come into force until the new year, they can act now – there is no need to wait for new laws to make their sites and apps safer for users."
