Starmer Conference on Southport and Aftermath
Starmer had senior police leaders over to Downing Street earlier this afternoon and reportedly told them:
“This is not protest, this is violent disorder and action will be taken. So, this government will make sure you have got the powers you need and will back you in using those powers.”
The PM is said to be announcing a new “national violent disorder unit“:
Starmer hits out at the “actions of a tiny mindless minority”:
- Give people time to grieve.
- The country will not allow understandable fear to curdle into hate.
- Starmer met with police to discuss response to “crime” and “assault on the rule of law“.
- New “national capability across police forces to tackle violent disorder“.
- Shared intelligence and use of “wider facial recognition technology“.
- Pre-emptive action – preventing getting onto trains.
A short statement…