Politics latest: PM unveils new police strategy to take on 'thugs' after days of violent disorder (2024)

After a meeting with police chiefs from across the country, the prime minister has announced a new strategy for forces to take on thugs who organise and carry out violent disorder.

"We will establish a national capability across police forces to tackle violent disorder," he says.

"These thugs are mobile - they move from community to community, and we must have a policing response that can do the same."

That includes:

• Shared intelligence between forces;
• Wider deployment of facial recognition tech;
• Criminal behaviour orders to restrict people's movements.

He compares it to the way police deal with football hooligans.

PM issues warning to social media companies

Sir Keir Starmer also has a message for social media companies, after misinformation about the Southport attack spread widely - which has been blamed for the subsequent riots.

"Violent disorder whipped up online - that is also a crime," he says.

"It's happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere."

Follow more updates from the news conference below:

Sir Keir Starmer is holding a news conference after meeting with police chiefs about the violent scenes in parts of the country this week.

There have been riots and disorder in Southport, London, Hartlepool, Manchester, and elsewhere in recent days.

It follows the knife attack in Southport which killed three children - the teenage suspect has been named as Axel Rudakubana.

You can watch the PM's news conference below or in the stream at the top of this page - and follow minute-by-minute text updates in our dedicated Southport blog by tapping here.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is in Beirut today as tensions remain extremely high between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah group.

It follows the killing of 12 people - mostly children - in a strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and the subsequent assassinations of top Hezbollah commanders by Israel.

Mr Lammy is in the region with the defence secretary, John Healey, and called for "de-escalation", warning: "This is a time for calm heads."

'All roads lead to ceasefire in Gaza'

Asked what they can do at this point, Mr Lammy said Britain supports the Lebanese armed forces and is urging them, alongside other partners, to see Hezbollah withdraw from the Israel-Lebanon border.

He is also calling for both Hezbollah and Israel to stop exchanging fire, and said he was in contact with the latter to urge them to "dial down the action and [...] step back from any potential for regional war".

It was put to him that diplomacy appears to be failing, given that attacks have continued from both sides, and the foreign secretary replied that "all roads lead back to a ceasefire in Gaza".

He said there is "deep frustration" that Israel's apparent assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh seems to have "thwarted" ceasefire talks, but negotiations will continue.

It's been swelteringly hot today - and now the Politics Hub is heating up with the news Sir Keir Starmer will be holding a media briefing with police chiefs over the riots seen in parts of the country this week.

The prime minister will be speaking from 4pm after meeting with the top cops inside Number 10 - here's what you need to know:

• Sir Keir Starmer's meeting with the UK's police chiefs concerns "multiple high-profile incidents of extreme violence and public disorder";
• It began with Tuesday night's riot in Southport following Monday's knife attack which killed three children, while last night saw disorder in London, Hartlepool, Aldershot, and Manchester;
• The PM told police chiefs they have his backing in taking on the "thugs" responsible for such violence;
• We'll bring you the top lines from the PM's news conference after 4pm, and you can get minute-by-minute updates in our dedicated Southport blog.

• The Huw Edwards scandal has seen the boss of the BBC summoned for a meeting with the culture secretary today;
• Tim Davie was called in for an emergency summit with Lisa Nandy after Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children yesterday;
• The BBC said in a statement after the court appearance it was made aware in November Edwards had been arrested on suspicion of "serious offences".

• In more positive news, the Bank of England has cut interest rates for the first time since the cost of living crisis began, which former PM Rishi Sunak has looked to take some credit for;
• But in not so good news, GPs have voted to take industrial action, which Health Secretary Wes Streeting has blamed on the previous government.

That's all for now - check back here or our Southport blog from 4pm for the prime minister's news conference.

The prime minister has hit out at the "marauding mobs" responsible for violence in Southport and elsewhere in the country following the stabbings that killed three young girls and injured many more.

At a meeting with police chiefs in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer said Southport community "are in raw pain and grief".

They want answers and "I am determined we will provide answers", the prime minister vowed.

PM vows 'action will be taken' to stop riots

But he also hit out at those behind the riot in the Merseyside town on Tuesday night and elsewhere yesterday.

Such "thugs" have "no interest whatsoever in the raw pain of the community in Southport", Sir Keir added.

Sir Keir said his government "supports the police" and told those at the meeting they will get the "powers you need" to stop future riots.

"This is not a protest, this is violent disorder, and action needs to be taken."

At least a dozen police chiefs have arrived in Downing Street for a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, due to start in the next few minutes.

The group ignored questions from the gathered media as they entered No 10.

Also seen arriving for the meeting were Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is meeting police chiefs this afternoon following"multiple high-profile incidents of extreme violence and public disorder on our streets".

After the summit, he will give a news conference at around 4pm.

The address follows incidents around the UK - including in Southport, Hartlepool and London.

Attendees at the meeting include Cleveland Police chief constable Mark Webber, Merseyside Police chief constableSerena Kennedy, and Essex Police chief constableBen-Julian Harrington.

It is understood Ms Kennedy is dialling into the summit.

A representative of Hampshire Constabulary did not attend the meeting.

Where has there been outbreaks of violence?

The most prominent example is the attacks in Southport, which saw three little girls die - and thesubsequent riotingthat left dozens of police officers injured.

And then there were ugly scenes outside Downing Street last night - again with officers injured and more than 100 people arrested.

Last night also saw unrest in Hartlepool - with police cars set on fire and bottles and eggs thrown.

Manchester saw disorder last night, as well as Aldershot in Hampshire.

And on Tuesday there were arrests and weapons seized followingugly scenes in Southendin Essex.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has responded to the news that GPs will be taking industrial action.

Doctors say they are taking action because they have been asked to do more work with fewer resources.

Mr Streeting says: "I can totally understand why GPs would want to punish the previous Conservative government, but this action, if it goes ahead, will only punish patients.

"The Conservatives already got their kicking at the general election, and we now have a Labour government that's really committed to working in partnership with GP to rebuild general practice so that people can get a GP appointment when they need one.

"And that's why just four weeks in, we're taking action today to deal with GP unemployment."

He added: "So let's work together to rebuild general practice for the benefit of patients and for the benefits of our country."

Mr Streeting added that £82m was being committed tothe additional roles reimbursem*nt scheme (ARRS),in the hope practices will be able to hire 1,000 more doctors this year.

We've had an updated following the protests outside Downing Street last night from the Met Police.

They say that 111 people were arrested.

This includes :

• One arrest for possession of offensive weapons - seven knives, one catapult with ammunition and nunchucks;
• Twenty seven arrest for failing to comply with conditions applied to the protest;
• Sixteen arrests for violent disorder - one of which was also wanted for burglary and another was also arrested for failing to comply with conditions;
• Two arrests for assault on emergency worker – one of which was also arrested for failing to comply with conditions imposed;
• Two arrests for racially/religiously aggravated causing fear of violence;
• One arrest for unlawful possession of Class A drugs;
• Two arrests for breach of dispersal order.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist: "Last night our officers faced unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence, as others across the country have done in recent days. They acted with great courage and the highest levels of professionalism in the face of hateful behaviour.

"All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those impacted by the most dreadful attack in Southport. It is shameful that some have sought to exploit this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.

"There is absolutely no place for this on our streets. We will ensure that anyone involved in any violent disorder and criminal behaviour will be stopped, arrested and will face justice."

We've had a reaction from Chancellor Rachel Reeves to the cut in interest rates today.

In a statement, she says: "While today's cut in interest rates will be welcome news, millions of families are still facing higher mortgage rates after the mini-budget.

"That is why this government is taking the difficult decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy after years of low growth, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off."

Conversely, shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt is trying to present the rates cut as the outcome of his party's prudent management of the economy.

He said: "Today's cut will be welcome news for millions of homeowners and shows that Labour inherited a stronger economy which was on the right track.

"In government, we took difficult decisions that cut inflation from 11.1% to the Bank's target 2% paving the way for lower rates.

"Our concern is that further substantive cuts may now take longer because of inflation-busting public sector pay rises rushed through by the chancellor ahead of the summer."