Starmer puts police on alert to deal with summer of riots

The prime minister has put police forces in Britain on a national footing to prepare for what many fear could be a summer of riots and violence by the far right.

- DAVID MADDOX

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday announced that police forces would be sharing resources and intelligence with national teams following known far-right activists around the country. He also issued a veiled threat to social media giants that continuing to platform misinformation and criminality is against the law and would have consequences.

The prime minister held an emergency summit with home secretary Yvette Cooper, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and police chiefs in the wake of the appalling scenes in Southport following the brutal murder of three young girls and attempted killing of seven others.

Far-right rioters, who the prime minister claimed came into the Merseyside town from outside to cause violent disturbances, targeted a local mosque and police officers after misinformation on social media which some believe may have originated in Russia to fan the flames of anger.