British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cancelled his holiday plans to focus on his government’s response. A series of racist riots targeting Muslims and immigrantsA Downing Street source said.
Thousands of police officers remained on duty over the weekend amid fears of a fresh outbreak of violence, although on Saturday, for the fourth consecutive day, pro-migration protesters far outnumbered anti-migration protesters in many cities and towns.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Starmer would no longer go on holiday next week.
His government has taken swift action to expedite action against those arrested and charged in connection with the riots.
On Friday, authorities said 741 arrests had been made and 302 people had been charged since the unrest began.
Police have said the arrests are likely to continue for months.
On Saturday, the National Police Chiefs Council, which represents police leaders, said specialist officers had been ordered to crackdown on online offenders and influencers responsible for spreading widespread hate and inciting violence.
Chris Howard, the NPCC’s head of serious and organised crime, said: “Online crime has real-world consequences too and you will be treated in the same way as those who commit violence in the physical presence.”
At least two people have been jailed in recent days for inciting racial hatred through messages on social media.
The riots broke out after an online post misidentified the suspected killer. On 29 July three young women were attacked with a knife in Southport. She lived in northwest England as an Islamist immigrant.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said King Charles on Friday appealed for mutual respect and understanding and welcomed the ways in which community groups had responded to “the aggression and offence committed by some”.