Keir Starmer says ‘standing army’ of specialist officers will deal with disorder – England riots live

4.33pm BST

Around 20 volunteers including local councillors helped council staff and contractors to paint over racist graffiti and clear up debris, including broken glass, bricks and paving slabs which had been used as missiles during the attack on Tamworth’s Holiday Inn Express.

Among those who made their way to the hotel to help out was councillor Margaret Clarke, 80, who said those responsible for the damage had exhibited “stone age thinking”.

The member of Tamworth Soroptimists: “I have lived in Tamworth for over 50 years and the first thing you do when there’s trouble is you help – that’s the way I look at things.

“Debasing our town is not something that we allow – it’s not Tamworth. Most of them (the rioters) were not Tamworthians and we don’t want our people to be harassed like that again.”

Her colleague Pat Pallett, 77, said of the amount of local people taking part in the clean-up: “That is Tamworth for you. We band together when there’s any trouble. It’s a lovely town to live in and we don’t want this happening again, ever.”

4.20pm BST

Police have made 378 arrests so far since disorder broke out

Police have made 378 arrests so far since disorder broke out last week and the total is expected to rise each day, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.

NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: “Every community across the country will have been affected in some way by the violent disorder we have seen in this past week.

“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.

“All forces have been requested not only to increase the number of specialist resources in their local area, but to contribute to regional reserves, coordinated nationally.

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

“We have been clear that this is not protest activity or people exercising their democratic right. It is unnecessary violence and we’ve seen important community hubs like a Citizen’s Advice Bureau and a library completely destroyed.”

4.08pm BST

The Conservative leadership candidate Priti Patel has criticised Nigel Farage’s response to the far-right riots , saying it was wrong to compare the violence to Black Lives Matter protests.

The former home secretary has also written to the prime minister and home secretary, urging them to recall parliament, drawing parallels with the 2011 riots when MPs returned for a government statement on civil disorder and to condemn the violence.

Farage condemned the violence against police officers in a statement posted on X on Monday morning but the Reform UK leader said “deeper long-term problems remain”. He also called for the recall of parliament and said the government should consider deploying the army.

He added: “Ever since the soft policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread. The prime minister’s faltering attempts to address the current crisis have only added to that sense of injustice.”

Patel said Farage’s comments were deeply misleading and “simply not relevant right now”. She told Times Radio: “There’s a clear difference between effectively blocking streets or roads being closed to burning down libraries, hotels, food banks and attacking places of worship. What we have seen is thuggery, violence, racism.”

Related: Priti Patel criticises Nigel Farage for comparing far-right riots to BLM protests

3.57pm BST

The director general of Sweden’s psychological defence agency, the country’s body tasked with combating foreign disinformation, said he has been shocked by the scale of the riots in the UK, saying they demonstrate the dangers of disinformation.

It comes a year after Sweden faced an international crisis over Qur’an burnings, during which authorities accused Russia of trying to influence how the incidents were viewed internationally, threatening to derail its Nato bid, after misinformation spread around the world.

Magnus Hjort told the Guardian: “I have been surprised to see the extent to these riots. The multitude of cities and towns which have exploded in violence and looting and attacks on mosques and attacks on hotels.” He added: “What we can see is the danger of disinformation and how it can set fire to underlying discontent that is within society.”

Hjort said several factors contributed to unrest around the Qur’an burning incidents in Sweden cooling down - both through information campaigns by the government and, following the outbreak of war in Gaza, many actors instead started focusing their attention there.

“Of course we see some of it [disinformation about last year’s Qur’an burnings] now, but it doesn’t get any traction today,” he said. “So both internal and external factors have made a change in the situation.”

While he said it was up to British authorities to ascertain whether foreign entities were involved, in his experience in Sweden, Russia is “always interested in amplifying disinformation”.

Each country must do what works for them, he said, but in Sweden the cold war-era agency, which was re-established two years ago amid heightening tensions with Russia, has helped take on disinformation. “First, we’re not a police agency and we’re not an intelligence agency and that works in favour of us being able to work more openly,” he said. “That works in Sweden.”

3.49pm BST

The Law Society of England and Wales said it has “serious concerns” about the safety of its members after names and addresses of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies were shared in a list of locations to be targeted by demonstrators.

The organisation’s president, Nick Emmerson, said: “We deplore the violent scenes and rioting that we have witnessed across the past week.

“We have serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our members following names and addresses of a number of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies being shared on a list of targets for further protest and violence this week.

“I have written to the prime minister, Lord Chancellor and home secretary today asking that the threats against the legal profession are treated with the utmost seriousness.

“A direct assault on our legal profession is a direct assault on our democratic values and we are supporting our members who are being targeted.”

3.38pm BST

Police patrols are being stepped up in Teesside over the coming days amid fears the area could be hit with more violent disorder.

In a statement, Cleveland Police said: “There will be an increased police presence across our towns and communities in the coming days, providing reassurance to residents and speaking to members of the public about their concerns.

“We are aware of information currently in circulation on social media and other platforms about further activity in the area and we’re monitoring the situation closely.

“Cleveland Police’s focus remains firmly on protecting people, protecting communities, and taking robust action against those who are intent on causing violence and fear across Teesside.”

3.19pm BST

The Labour MP for Tamworth, Sarah Edwards, said in a statement issued on her social media accounts that the attack on the town’s Holiday Inn Express had put lives at risk.

Urging local people to help police identify those responsible, Edwards said: “It is not protest. It’s not legitimate. It is crime and violent disorder. An assault on the rule of law.

“It was distressing to see petrol bombs and fireworks being thrown towards police and emergency workers and it was horrifying to see such violence towards the most vulnerable in our society.”

Saying such behaviour would not be tolerated, she added: “Those who are intent on stoking disorder and division are not welcome and do not speak for Britain or for Tamworth.

“It is fortunate that no one inside the hotel was injured, but rest assured those involved in the violence will face the full force of the justice system.”

Updated at 3.21pm BST

3.00pm BST

Keir Starmer must stop Labour from repeating “appalling” anti-immigrant rhetoric which has fuelled riots for the past week, an influential trade union leader has said.

Matt Wrack, the head of the firefighters’ union and president of the TUC, also called for the Labour movement to support Muslims who wish to defend themselves from attacks, and called for mass mobilisation to repel far right thugs.

Speaking to the Guardian, the general secretary of the FBU said the Labour leader and fellow cabinet colleagues attempted to win over Tory voters during the general election campaign by repeating anti-migrant language.

“The background to the riots is years of Islamophobia, some stoked by politicians, including quite mainstream politicians.

“I think the Labour Party should not be trying to outdo the Tories or Reform on anti-refugee rhetoric. Starmer’s comments, for example, about Bangladeshi people were appalling and significant not just from the electoral point of view, but in terms of principle, it was a terrible thing,” he said.

In June, during an event organised by the Sun newspaper, Starmer said the number of people returned to where they came from had fallen by 44% under the Conservative government.

He pledged to “put the staff back in the returns unit” in “the first few days” of a Labour government.

“At the moment people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed, because they’re not being processed,” Starmer said, sparking criticisms from community groups.

Labour claimed he was referring to Labour’s long-established policy of returning those who do not have the legal right to be in the UK to safe countries, and Bangladesh was an example.

2.31pm BST

Greater Manchester Police said it arrested 19 people while policing protests over the weekend.

Officers made five arrests on Saturday and a further 14 on Sunday relating to several different alleged offences, including criminal damage and violent disorder.

Seven people were charged with possession of a weapon, including two 16-year-olds, while one person was charged with assault.

Stephen Watson, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: “There are consequences for inciting hate and causing damage, and those who have broken the law will be held accountable for their actions.

“Where arrests have been made, charges have been quickly sought and some offenders have already appeared before the courts and we expect to make further arrests.

“We have gathered extensive video evidence, collected testimonies, and our intelligence teams are working vigorously with support from the full force to identify further criminal behaviour and locate those responsible. Justice will be forthwith.

“I am proud of all the efforts of our officers and staff made to bring these events to a largely peaceful conclusion and from preventing illegal acts to bring about harm to those who want to live in harmony.”

2.10pm BST

Two people have been charged in connection with disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday, Staffordshire Police have said.

Jarrod Hollinshead, 26, of no fixed address, has been charged with using threatening or abusive words and or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and Lee Bodman, 52, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and breaching a criminal behaviour order.

They will appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 22 August.

Police say their investigation into the disorder is continuing.

1.44pm BST

Countries around the world have begun to issue travel alerts to warn their citizens about the dangers of riots in the UK.

On Monday, Nigeria and Australia joined Malaysia in publishing travel advisories about the widespread violent disorder in many towns and cities in England.

In its advisory, Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs said:

There is an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK, stemming from the killing of 3 young girls … The violence has assumed dangerous proportions as evidenced by reported attacks on Law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.

In its warning , Australia’s foreign ministry said:

Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence. Monitor the media for information and updates. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

On Sunday, Malaysia was believed to have become the first country to issue a safety warning to its citizens in the UK due to anti-immigration riots.

Updated at 1.44pm BST

1.23pm BST

Asked if a recall of parliament was needed, Keir Starmer has said his focus was on ensuring police are able to carry out their duties, the PA news agency reported.

“My focus is on ensuring we have got the right people carrying out their duties to ensure that our streets are safe,” he said.

The prime minister added:

My focus is on making sure that we stop this disorder, that the criminal sanctions are swift and be seen to be followed.

Starmer also denied that two-tier policing was being carried out in the UK.

“There is policing without fear or favour - exactly as it should be, exactly what I would expect and require,” he said.

Updated at 1.30pm BST

1.13pm BST

Starmer says 'standing army' of specialist officers will be set up to deal with riots

Keir Starmer has said a “standing army” of specialist police officers would be set up to deal with rioting and unrest, the PA news agency reported.

“We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them,” the prime minister said, adding that “we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.”

He added:

I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law.

The prime minister also warned against illegal online activities.

“I have been absolutely clear that the criminal law applies online as well as offline,” he said.

Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest, it is pure violence and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities. So the full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part in these activities.

Updated at 2.37pm BST

12.56pm BST

No requests have been made for Army assistance to quell riots, Downing Street has said.

Following Monday morning’s emergency Cobra meeting, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The police are very clear that they’ve got the powers and resources they need to protect communities and keep people safe.

“There’s been no requests made for any military assistance, that I’m aware of.”

12.50pm BST

Keir Starmer paid tribute to police officers tackling disorder on Britain’s streets during Monday morning’s emergency Cobra meeting.

His official spokesman told reporters: “The prime minister convened a meeting of Cobra this morning to update on the response for the disorder we’ve seen. This follows a series of meetings last week and over the weekend.

“Cobra was attended by the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, home secretary, justice secretary, DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) secretary, attorney general, chief secretary and leaders from police, prison service, NCA (National Crime Agency) and other senior officials.

“The PM paid tribute to the hard work of police officers over the past week and sent best wishes to those who have been injured protecting our streets.

“There have been hundreds of arrests and people are already being charged, and police will continue to update on the specifics in relation to progress or arrests and charging.

“The police are continuing to deploy additional resource around the country at strategic locations where necessary.”

12.33pm BST

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has condemned the “lawlessness and thuggery” seen on Britain’s streets in recent days, saying a “national conversation” is needed on promoting respect for the country and each other.

The organisation’s president, Phil Rosenberg, said: “Attacks on Muslims, black people, members of other minorities, and our brave police officers, are totally unacceptable, and we stand in solidarity with everyone affected.

“As a society, we have to be better than this. We need a national conversation about how we promote respect for our country and respect for each other, and how about we tackle extremism and build cohesion.

“The Board of Deputies will play its full part in this effort.”

12.16pm BST

Irish police are investigating the involvement of anti-immigrant activists from Dublin at a protest in Belfast that turned into a riot.

Protestors from the republic carried Irish tricolour flags alongside loyalists who carried British flags at a gathering outside Belfast city hall on Saturday. A mob clashed with police and targeted businesses owned by foreigners, including a supermarket owned by a Syrian and a cafe run by a Sudanese man.

Some of the Irish visitors later spent the night drinking with members of the Ulster Defence Association paramilitary group at a loyalist bar, the Belfast Telegraph reported. The UK-wide anti-immigrant riots have evoked comparisons to a riot in Dublin last November.

Ireland ’s taoiseach, Simon Harris, spoke with Northern Ireland ’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, on Sunday. They said police on both sides of the border would cooperate to counter efforts to sow hate, racism and division.

Four men aged 34, 38, 46 and 53 were to appear in Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges linked to the disturbances.

“We have people in our community this morning who have invested their lives in building businesses, in settling into our community and in providing services to our community, who have now seen their entire livelihoods wiped out in one night of sickening violence and that has to stop,” Naomi Long, the justice minister, told the BBC .

“We are already seeing now on social media people making preparations for another round of this this week. This cannot continue, we cannot have this kind of Islamaphobia, xenophobia and hatred on our streets.”

12.03pm BST

Jeremy Corbyn and four fellow independent MPs have criticised Sir Keir Starmer for not going “nearly far enough in identifying the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hatred” behind the riots on Britain’s streets.

In a letter to home secretary Yvette Cooper, shared on social media, they wrote: “While we welcome the Prime Minister’s condemnation of the ‘far-right thuggery’ that has scarred our towns and cities this weekend, we feel his words do not go nearly far enough in identifying the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hatred driving this violence.

“When people are under attack for the colour of their skin and their faith, government references to ‘understandable fears’ send mixed messages and only give succour to those seeking to sow hatred and division.

“At a time when gangs of violent racist thugs are targeting mosques and asylum centres, we are alarmed the government has said they have no plans to meet with the largest body representing Muslims in the UK, the Muslim Council of Britain. We find it inconceivable representatives of any other faith community would be treated in a similar manner.

“Instead of pandering to those who have helped ferment the ugly racism behind these protests, we expect our Government to call out the bigotry and Islamophobia behind them and stand shoulder to shoulder with its victims.

“We reject any narrative that seeks to blame asylum seekers and immigrant communities for the decades of austerity and the subsequent decline in stable and well-paid jobs that has eroded the fabric of once-secure communities.”

The five MPs also called for an urgent meeting with the home secretary to “discuss what actions are planned to stamp out this racist terror”.

Updated at 12.06pm BST

11.39am BST

The leader of Tamworth borough council, councillor Carol Dean, and its chief executive Stephen Gabriel have issued a joint statement condemning Sunday’s violent attack on the town’s Holiday Inn Express.

Their statement said: “The outbreak of violence and criminal damage is totally unacceptable.

“We will do everything in our power to support the authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to account for their actions.

“Everyone has a right to express their views, that must be done, peacefully and responsibly.

“While we understand and respect the right of citizens to express their concerns and opinions, we cannot and will not support actions that resort to violence, intimidations and disorder.

“These events are not a reflection of our town and its community.”

Updated at 11.47am BST

11.23am BST

Six arrests have been made, and one person has been charged, after violent disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield, of South Yorkshire police, said: “So far we have had six arrests, one in Sheffield and five in Rotherham, with one person already charged before the court this morning.

“Please be assured, we expect this number to increase significantly in the coming days.”

Updated at 11.35am BST

11.17am BST

At least 12 police officers were injured during disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield, of South Yorkshire Police, said the injuries followed “a day and night of violence and disorder”, adding: “I can confirm today that we have seen at least 12 of our officers injured with items such as bricks, fenceposts, branches and other missiles thrown at them.

“Our police dogs suffered minor injuries after missiles were launched at them and horses had bricks, eggs, bottles and beer cans thrown at their heads.

“They were spat at and threats made to cut the saddles in an attempt to injure the riders.”

11.13am BST

Five more people have been charged in connection with disorder, Merseyside Police said.

Gareth Metcalfe, 44, and John O’Malley, 43, both of Cambridge Gardens in Southport, have been charged with violent disorder after a group was seen showing aggression towards police in the town last Tuesday, PA reported.

A 14-year-old boy from Toxteth, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday after officers in Clayton Square had fireworks set off in their direction.

Adam Wharton, 28, and Ellis Wharton, 22, of Selwyn Street, Walton, have both been charged with burglary other than a dwelling after a group entered the Spellow Hub library on County Road on Saturday and were challenged by officers trying to steal equipment.

Ellis Wharton was also charged with assault on an emergency worker.

All the defendants will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

11.00am BST

Labour MP Diane Abbott said “we don’t know” what ministers are doing to tackle rioting on Britain’s streets as she demanded parliament be recalled.

Asked whether the government is doing enough, the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP told the BBC: “We don’t know what they’re doing.

“That’s why we need parliament so they can be questioned on it.

“This is an extraordinarily grave situation. You’ve got people trying to burn down hostels where asylum seekers are cowering. You’ve got people attacking black and Muslim people on the street.

“We need to be able to question ministers on what exactly is being done and we want to speak up for our communities. These are racist anti-immigrant riots, and we need proper debate and proper analysis in the House of Commons.”

Abbott, the first black woman elected to the Commons, added that “unless there is a serious analysis of what is happening” she believes “there is no sign of these anti-immigrant incidents abating”.

Updated at 11.08am BST

10.45am BST

Visiting the scene of the disorder in Rotherham, South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said:

Like every decent person from this community, from my community, from South Yorkshire, from across the country, I’m horrified. I’m appalled by the violence that we saw yesterday.

We saw a violent far-right mob come down to attack 240 of the most vulnerable people in our society and try and burn them in the hotel in which they were living.

That is not OK and there is no excuse for it.

Coppard said:

The far right have always said to those people with little that they need to attack people with even less.

And, that’s what we saw here yesterday: we saw 240 vulnerable people, who came here because in their own homes they have been persecuted.

They came to our country because we are a tolerant and diverse place and they faced those similar attacks that they might have faced at home here in South Yorkshire.

10.33am BST

Defence secretary John Healey, who is the local MP, arrived at the scene in Rotherham to talk to residents about “the damage they have suffered and the trauma they have suffered”.

Healey said: “This was an estate yesterday that was wracked with shock and fear.

“Many people in this estate here got holed up in their own homes or felt that they had to get their families out.”

He said: “So, fear for the local residents. Fear for those staff in this hotel and the residents who saw the windows put through and people outside trying the set fire to this hotel knowing there were people inside.

“And then, of course, the violence that the police faced.”

Asked, as defence secretary, whether he had an plans to mobilise the Army, Healey said: “No. It’s the police’s job, their responsibility and they’ve got the powers to lead on disorder like this.”

10.23am BST

Farage breaks riot silence to call for recall of parliament

Reform leader Nigel Farage has finally made a statement following the far-right riots across England.

On X, he has said he is “totally appalled” by the violence, while calling for the recall of parliament and consideration of using the army to prevent further disorder.

However, he goes on to further push his own agenda around so-called “two-tier policing” and “uncontrolled immigration”.

Updated at 10.56am BST

10.07am BST

Local people joined council workers to clear up around the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Manvers, near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, on Monday morning.

Police officers stood guard outside the main entrance and at other locations around the building as teams swept up glass from the numerous broken windows at the front of the hotel, PA reported.

The fire door where rioters appeared to have got into the four-storey building was boarded up but with the melted remains of a bin still in place in front.

Further damage was visible around the rear of the property where fences were ripped down, doors kicked in and more windows smashed.

9.45am BST

The government is not recalling parliament “right now”, home secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

Asked whether MPs will be recalled, she told LBC radio:

That’s not what we’re doing right now. What we’re doing right now is keeping in close contact with MPs.

Updated at 9.47am BST

9.20am BST

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said the courts are on “stand-by” to ensure “swift justice”.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:

We have made sure that the courts are on stand-by. We’ve made sure that there are additional prosecutors in place this weekend, and hundreds of arrests have already taken place. So we do expect swift justice to take place.

Asked if the Army would be called upon, Cooper said:

So, the police have the expertise and also the powers in terms of dealing with public order and crime, because this is crime.

There are also significant additional numbers of public order-trained police, who were not deployed this weekend, so there are considerable additional policing resources that forces can call upon.

Pressed on whether the government will take action against Tommy Robinson, who has been accused of stoking tensions from afar, Cooper said:

If it’s a crime offline, it’s a crime online.

“You can’t just have the the armchair thuggery or the people being able to incite and organise violence and also not face consequences for this,” she added.

9.09am BST

Claims that there is “two-tier policing” in Britain, where right-wing protests are dealt with more harshly than left-wing ones, are “not correct”, Dame Priti Patel has said.

The former home secretary told Times Radio:

There is a clear difference between effectively blocking streets or roads being closed, to burning down libraries, hotels, food banks and attacking places of worships.

What we have seen is thuggery, violence, racism.

She added:

Those kinds of comments are simply not relevant right now. That is not correct, it is not correct.

8.52am BST

Politicians need to make sure they are “fully informed” before commenting on issues on social media, Dame Priti Patel has said, but she stopped short of directly criticising Nigel Farage for his comments about the Southport stabbings.

The former home secretary told Times Radio:

As we’ve seen, and as BJ Harrington, the Chief Constable of Essex, the national police lead for public order, has said very clearly, a lot of what we have seen is down to misinformation and social media.

It is irresponsible to just look at what we see on X or other social media platforms and then effectively say ‘Oh, it’s all down to, you know, comments like this that have been put out on social media, that’s got the full facts’ - it does not.

We have to, as elected politicians, always be careful, number one in the language that we use but ensure that we are as fully informed as we can possibly be before commenting on the situation.

Asked directly whether Farage was wrong to suggest the facts about Southport were being withheld from the public, Patel said his comments were “a matter for him”.

8.40am BST

Parliament should be recalled to deal with the outbreak of rioting in the UK, Dame Priti Patel has said.

The former home secretary told Times Radio:

What we are seeing across the country right now is just extraordinary criminality.

At the end of the day, crime and criminality is the responsibility of those who are perpetrating this and we now need to, in my view, as politicians, get some kind of grip of this, which is why I am calling for the recall of parliament right now so that we can actually discuss these issues in a similar way … back in 2011 those discussions took place and actually we put our arm around the communities that were affected at the time.

And I think that’s really what we should be doing right now.

Updated at 9.48am BST

8.24am BST

James Cleverly , the former home secretary, similarly condemned the rioters, and said there “can never be any excuse” for their behaviour.

There is not and can never be any excuse, justification or rationale for behavior like this.

This should be condemned by everybody, and those taking part should expect to be met with the full weight of the law.

8.08am BST

Prison places ready for 'thuggish' rioters, says home secretary

The home secretary has said prison places “are ready” for the “thuggish minority of criminals” rioting across the UK, ahead of an emergency COBRA meeting today.

Yvette Cooper will hold the emergency meeting this morning following nearly a week of rioting in cities and towns across the UK.

More than 140 people have been arrested so far across the country. In Middlesbrough alone, officers arrested 43 people.

She told Sky News those involved, who have injured police, targeted mosques and caused criminal damage, are “a thuggish minority of criminals”.

She said:

They do not speak for our communities.

We’ve made sure there are additional prosecutors in place, that there are prisons, that prison places ready, and also that the courts stand ready as well.

We have made very clear to the police they have our full support in pursuing the full range of prosecutions and penalties, including the serious prison sentences, long term tagging, travel bans and more.

Updated at 8.15am BST

8.06am BST

Last night, Rishi Sunak put his focus on the rioters rather than the Labour PM, as he described the “shocking scenes” that he said “have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport”.

In a post on X, he said:

The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport.

This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society.

The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full weight of the law.

7.48am BST

Opening summary

Good morning. It has been a week since the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, which has seen a series of violent riots spread across the country.

Here is a quick summary of what happened last night, and what is expected later today:

• Downing Street is expected to hold a Cobra emergency response meeting on after rioters storming hotels housing asylum seekers. The meeting is due to involve relevant ministers and police representatives who will discuss the response in the coming days to ensure there is no repeat of the violent scenes.

• A large crowd gathered outside a mosque in Middlesbrough on Sunday night and others have also been targeted.

• In Rotherham, anti-immigration rioters smashed the windows of the Holiday Inn Express before starting fires. At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire Police confirmed later, saying one person had already been arrested and others involved should “expect us to be at their doors very soon”.

• In Bolton, Muslim groups apparently shouting “Allahu Akbar” clashed with far- right rioters.

Updated at 7.49am BST