UK riots latest: Nearly 400 arrests in week - as 'tense' situation in Birmingham and 'eerie' feeling in Plymouth (2024)

The Metropolitan Police commissioner has apologised after he knocked a Sky News journalist's microphone out of his hand earlier today.

"This morning I was part of a positive and constructive COBRA meeting with the prime minister about our collective response to hateful behaviour and violent disorder across the country," Sir Mark Rowley said.

"There's been a story running all day about my exit from the meeting. This is a distraction from the critical events we are dealing with.

"It was agreed the prime minister would provide an update afterwards and it was not my place to speak publicly.

"In an effort to move a microphone out of my path I'm sorry that I knocked it to the floor. That was never my intention.

"We remain focused on the critical and urgent matters at hand."

Elon Musk has used his X platform - widely criticised over the past week for hosting disinformation about the Southport attack, which has partly inflamed the subsequent riots - to question Sir Keir Starmer's response.

The prime minister tweeted a clip of a statement he gave this morning, where he reiterated his warning to rioters that they will face justice and offered his support to Muslim communities targeted by the far right.

"We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities," his tweet read.

Musk responded: "Shouldn't you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?"

Social media platforms facing government scorn

A reminder that Muslims have been targeted since the Southport attack after false rumours spread online that the suspect was a Muslim migrant.

He is in fact British-born 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana.

A mosque in Southport was targeted by a mob last Tuesday, and others have had their security ramped up in the days since.

Musk was criticised by Downing Street earlier for suggesting the UK was heading for "civil war".

The government has also called on social media bosses to do more to clamp down on misinformation and hate speech.

After a weekend of violence and disorder, Sir Keir Starmer has said police will have access to a "standing army of specialist officers" to deal with the riots.

Hundreds of people tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday, while a children's library in Liverpool and a Citizens Advice centre in Sunderland were burnt over the weekend.

Mosques have also been attacked and shops looted.

The prime minister is facing mounting pressure to take a stand against the far right.

On today's episode of the Sky News Daily, presenter Niall Paterson speaks with Ivan Humble, a former leading active member of the English Defence League who now works to tackle radicalisation and extremism in the UK.

Plus, our political correspondent Rob Powell talks about the government's response to the crisis.

Residents of Southport have come out to blow bubbles in a tribute to those killed and injured in a stabbing attack a week ago today.

Hundreds of people came out to pay respects to Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who all died last week.

Eight other children and two adults were also injured.

One child remains in hospital, but all other patients have been discharged.

Children blew bubbles while piano music played as others placed flowers and heart-shaped balloons in front of The Atkinson arts centre in remembrance.

Police officers hauled off rest days to face violent riots are likely to suffer fatigue, the Police Federation has warned.

Broken bones and concussion are among the injuries police officers have suffered over six days of violence.

Nearly 400 arrests have been made, but it is not yet known how many police officers have been injured during the disorder.

Tiffany Lynch, acting national chairwoman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told Times Radio: "What we're actually seeing and our officers out there that are working incredibly hard for extended periods of duty, is unprecedented, and the violence that they're actually facing, some have never faced before in their careers.

"We know of recorded injuries where we've had broken bones, concussion and such like, but we're also seeing that these officers are working extended long hours and with the level of violence that they're facing, they will be becoming fatigued at some point."

She added the officers "will be having their rest days cancelled", and will be "pulled off shifts or specialised departments to actually prioritise what is a national priority".

Police have nearly 400 arrests linked to violent disorder across the UK, with that number set to rise with each day.

"So far 378 arrests have been made and we expect that total to rise each day as forces continue to identify those involved and continue to apprehend those responsible," Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, has said.

"Work is going on around the clock to do this and those involved will be brought to justice."

He also sought to ease fears that violence could continue or escalate, saying police were prepared.

"I want to reassure the public that a united and robust policing response is in place across the country and we are doing all we can to tackle this disorder and keep you safe.

Tensions are high in one of Britain's biggest cities this evening, our communities correspondent Becky Johnson reports.

"There's a pretty tense situation developing here in Birmingham," she says.

In Bordesley Green, an inner-city area, crowds of Muslim men, some in balaclavas, have gathered, they say, to defend the streets from potential far-right action.

"I was speaking earlier to one of the community activists who has helped to plan all of this," Becky says.

"He said he has a WhatsApp group of over 1,000 members of the Muslim community here in Birmingham who want to get out on the streets, they say, to protect, to defend their community.

"He was at pains to say to me that he is trying to calm the anger."

As she's speaking, some of the men shout at her and her camera crew.

"The media are clearly not very welcome here," she says.

She's forced off-air after some come over on bikes and start shouting and swearing at the camera.

By Dan Whitehead, West of England correspondent

4.30pm in the centre of Plymouth, and there's an eerie, quiet feeling.

It's the middle of the summer holidays, but shops and pulling down the shutters - cafes bringing in tables.

The Theatre Royal, one of the South West's biggest venues, has closed and cancelled tonight's performance.

Buses are diverted, the library has closed.

There are two planned protests tonight, one against illegal migration, the other organised by Stand Up to Racism.

But they're happening in the same place - an hour apart.

At the moment, police-wise, all I can see is one riot van.

Plenty more are on standby.

Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew says they are prepared: "Residents, visitors, and local businesses can expect to see an increased policing presence in the area as a result of this.

"We understand the right to protest, but some protests have resulted in disorder and such conduct will not be tolerated.

"We are fully prepared to respond to incidents of disorder."

Locals, business leaders, MPs have all urged calm in the city - no one wants a repeat of scenes elsewhere over the weekend.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in response to riots across the country.Dozens of them have appeared in court today, met with additional prosecutors, as the judiciary attempts to meet Sir Keir Starmer's demand for swift justice.

Home affairs reporter Henry Vaughanwas at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, where some of those cases were heard. Here's his latest report...

A man has admitted punching a police officer in the face during a riot in Southport as members of his family wept in court.

Derek Drummond, 58, from Southport pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of emergency worker, PC Thomas Ball, last Tuesday.

Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard PC Ball was deployed to the Merseyside town after the deaths of three young girls at a dance studio.

He was stationed at the mosque when around 300 people who were "very aggressive" began marching towards it, chanting "this is our f***ing country", said prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk.

Officers had to withdraw as they feared becoming overwhelmed, while the protesters moved forward shouting: "England till I die," the court heard.

PC Ball was trying to protect his colleagues as they put their riot gear on, while Drummond called them "sh*thouses" and punched the officer in the face, the prosecutor said.

Body-worn video footage captured the incident, which left the officer with cuts and bruises while Drummond was struck with a baton.

The prosecutor said he was part of the group which began throwing bricks, having broken down a garden wall, although the court heard he denies throwing bricks himself.

Drummond was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on 29 August.

As he left the dock, he spoke to two female family members, who were in tears throughout the hearing.

Read more snapshots from court by Henry here: