UK riots latest: Police 'on high alert' amid fears of weekend unrest

A woman who repeatedly pushed industrial bins at a police line during riots in Sunderland has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, also deliberately ran into an officer and used a racial slur against another during the disorder on 2 August.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that when police saw her early in the evening she was “clearly under the influence of alcohol and shouting abuse at officers”.

Later on, an officer described Hodgson as “running straight at him and colliding with him”. He said it was “clearly a deliberate act” and when he looked at her afterwards she was “laughing and pointing at him”.

The defendant was identified by police from videos on social media, where she was seen pushing industrial bins towards police, picking up a glass bottle and motioning as if to throw it at officers, and breaking bricks on the ground before throwing them into the crowd to be used as missiles.

After Hodgson was arrested the next day, police learned she had tried to buy a balaclava from the post office earlier.

In mitigation, the court heard she has “mental health difficulties exacerbated by alcohol problems” and was “ashamed of her actions”.

Almost 600 people have been arrested in connection with the riots and almost 160 charged.

More than 150 people have already appeared in court in connection with this month’s unrest, the Ministry of Justice has said.

Figures from the department showed that, as of Thursday, 154 defendants had had their first appearance in a magistrates’ court, with 118 remanded into custody.

Six of those who have appeared in court have been sentenced while 50 have been sent to crown court for sentencing and another 72 will face trial in the crown court.

Some 26 cases will have another hearing in a magistrates’ court.

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The mindless minority who caused and took part in the disgraceful scenes we witnessed were warned they would soon feel the full force of the law.

“This data shows that many have already seen the inside of a courtroom and will see a stint behind bars too. Where they have gone, more will follow.

“I would like to pay tribute to the thousands of dedicated professionals across the criminal justice system who have worked tirelessly so such swift action could be taken.”

A judge in Belfast has warned those caught observing or taking part in public disorder will be refused bail, as four men appeared in court charged in relation to recent riots in the city.

Judge Rafferty said that someone’s presence, including a “curious observer”, at disorder involves them in such disorder as he refused two bail applications.

Read the full story from PA.

Staffordshire Police said its officers have arrested 14 people in the last 24 hours with more expected to follow.

Officers have been using drone surveillance footage, body-worn video and video from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) to identify those involved in disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday and Tamworth on Sunday.

Nine people have been arrested in connection with the Tamworth disorder and five have been arrested in connection with events in Stoke-on-Trent.

Those arrested are a 23-year-old woman from Tamworth, males aged between 19 and 55 from Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth, and a 39-year-old man from Rugeley.

All the arrests were made on suspicion of violent disorder.

A man who encouraged people to start a riot on social media has become the first person from Wales to be convicted following recent disorder across the UK.

Richard Williams, 34, of Buckley, Flintshire, posted about taking part in a riot and shared a derogatory meme about migrants in a local Facebook group dedicated to protests, Mold Magistrates’ Court heard.

Williams pleaded guilty to one count of sending menacing messages via a public communication network.

He is due to be sentenced on Friday afternoon.

Jenny Hopkins, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Cymru/Wales, said: “Williams wrongly thought that he could spread derogatory and menacing content from behind a computer screen.

“Despite not taking part in unrest himself, he used social media to encourage others to engage in violent behaviour.

“I hope today’s result sends a clear message to those using the internet to sow division – your actions have consequences and you will be prosecuted.”

A teenager must pay £1,000 after admitting smashing the windows of vehicles parked in the Leicester street where he lives. Joshua Leyland, 18, also pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said the force received a call at 11pm on Tuesday (August 6) reporting that windows of vehicles parked in Hobart Street, Highfields, had been smashed by a man. On arrival at the scene, police arrested Leyland on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Read the full story from Leicestershire Live.

Police in Northern Ireland are bracing for potential fresh clashes in Belfast as rival groups are due to gather outside the city hall.

A police spokesperson promised on Friday a “significant” security operation even though reinforcements from Scotland will not arrive until next week.

An anti-racism rally is scheduled at 4.30pm and an anti-immigration one is expected at 5pm, presenting another challenge for a force overstretched by five consecutive nights of disorder.

Read the full story from The Guardian.

The prime minister reiterated his message that the police should maintain “high alert” going into the weekend.

Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Scotland Yard, he said: “My message to the police and all of those that are charged with responding to disorder is maintain that high alert.

“I’m absolutely convinced that having the police officers in place these last few days, and the swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts have had a real impact.

“But we have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure.”

The government will have to “look more broadly at social media” after recent rioting, the prime minister has said in an apparent hint that further regulation could be considered.

False information spread on social media about the identity of the alleged Southport knife attacker has been seen as playing a role in sparking the recent violence, leading some to call for tougher regulation.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been among those calling for reform, saying recent events have shown regulations due to come into force under the Online Safety Act are “not fit for purpose”.

Read the full story from PA.

Cheshire Police said four people have been charged in connection with the national disorder.

Joshua Sigley, 24, of St Chads Fields, Winsford, is accused of possession of an offensive weapon and three counts of arson following incidents in Winsford on Sunday.

Nigel Dodd, 65, of Cameron Avenue, Shavington, has been charged with racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause alarm or distress following an incident in Nantwich on Wednesday.

Both men will appear at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, the force said.

Daniel Billing, 45, of Warrington, has been charged with using threatening and abusive language and possession of cannabis following an incident in Warrington on Wednesday and will appear at the town’s magistrates’ court on September 4.

Zoe Houghton, 35, of St Marks Road, Chester, is accused of using threatening and abusive language, and two counts of misuse of the 999 service, following incidents in Chester on Wednesday, and appeared at city’s magistrates’ court on Thursday.

A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officer says there will be a “significant visible policing operation in place” ahead of a planned far-right protest and counter protest in Belfast.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the police are expecting a very busy weekend for policing across Northern Ireland with a risk of spontaneous protest as well as an Apprentice Boys of Derry parade in Londonderry and the ongoing West Belfast Festival.

“We will have a significant visible policing operation in place across Northern Ireland to ensure that everyone is kept safe,” she told media at a press conference at PSNI headquarters in east Belfast.

“We will be supporting the right to peaceful protest that is lawful, but this does not extend into intimidation, harassment or disorder.

“I encourage anyone who is planning to engage in protest to do so peacefully and within the law, and to engage with the police and follow our advice and instruction.”

Football fans who “engage in violent, thuggish behaviour” face being dealt with quickly after days of violent disorder across the UK, a Cabinet Office minister said.

Police are examining links between far-right thugs and football hooligans ahead of the new season this weekend.

Read the full story from the Evening Standard.

Sir Keir Starmer said potential unrest caused by the start of the football season is “added into the mix” of the police and government’s plans for handling future disorder.

Asked if the football season would make it easier or harder to manage rioting, the prime minister told reporters at Scotland Yard: “I think there were a lot of things in the mix this weekend but of course, whatever the challenge, we have to rise to it.

“That’s why I’ve had Cobra meetings, that’s why I’ve been talking to the police today about their plans for the weekend.

“Yes, football is added into the mix, there are other things in the mix, but our focus has to be absolutely solely on the safety and security of our communities, and that’s exactly where it is.”

Social media executives and users should be “mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure”, according to the prime minister.

Questioned about whether Elon Musk should be “mindful” of who he lets onto X, formerly Twitter, which he owns, Sir Keir Starmer replied: “I think people should be mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.

“The vast majority of the public are absolutely repulsed by what they’ve seen in this disorder. They don’t want it and they expect all of us, myself included, to do everything we possibly can to ensure that the disorder stops. And that’s why the message those that are thinking about getting involved in disorder of any sort is very clear – if you involve yourself in disorder, then the full force of the law will be applied.

“And the fact that we’ve seen this week people not just in court but being sentenced to significant terms of custody for their behaviour just a few days ago I think is a very important message to anyone who’s thinking of getting involved in the coming days.”

A Labour councillor who was filmed saying far-Right rioters are “disgusting” and should have their throats cut has been arrested.

Ricky Jones, a councillor for Princes, in Dartford, was seen on video footage telling anti-racism protesters in Walthamstow, north-east London: “We need to cut all their throats.”

The Labour Party said his behaviour was “completely unacceptable” and he had been suspended. He was also arrested on suspicion of encouraging murder.

Read the full story from The Telegraph.

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said there is a distinction between the “tradition of British peaceful protest” and “people who turn up outside with weapons”.

Asked about peaceful gatherings and protests to counter recent violent disorder, the paymaster General told Sky News: “Having spoken to police officers yesterday about the strain that they are under, the hours that they are working, I certainly don’t think it helps for politicians to be encouraging even more people out on our streets.”

He added: “Nonetheless, we should make that distinction between that tradition of British peaceful protest – which is very much part of our politics – and the violent thuggery we’ve seen on our streets.

“People who turn up outside with weapons are not coming to protest about anything – they are coming with criminal intent. We should be very clear about that distinction.”

Police are remaining vigilant over fears far-right groups could exploit football matches over the weekend.

Sir Keir Starmer told an emergency Cobra meeting that police need to remain on “high alert”, PA understands.

The prime minister thanked the police and wider criminal justice system at his third Cobra meeting since violence broke out last week.

He also said there was no doubt that levels of policing in the right places and swift justice over the past week, including sentencing, have acted as a deterrent to disorder.