GovWire

Our immediate action after Southport attacks

Home Office

August 6
18:37 2024

The Prime Minister has taken immediate action following thefar-right thuggery we haveseen takeplace after thedevastating events in Southport last week.

He has promisedthatthose taking part in this disorder - whether it be directly or online - will face the full force of the law.

The police will continue to make arrests, individuals will be held on remand, and charges and convictions will follow.

Ramp up criminal justice

Police chiefs have made clear that public order reserves will be on standby in strategic locations throughout the week, with thousands of extra officers available for rapid deployment wherever and whenever disorder arises.

There have already been hundreds of arrests, including for online offences. Some have already appeared in court this morning. We will ensure those responsible will feel the full force of the law.

We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities. The full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part in these activities.

Mosques to be offered new emergency security

Mosques are being offered greater protection with new emergency security that can be rapidly deployed.

The new rapid response process means mosques at risk of violent disorder can be offered additional security personnel, providing communities with vital support and reassurance.

This will boost the work already being done by local police forces to protect these important places of worship.

Under the new process now in place, the police, localauthoritiesand mosques can ask for rapid security to be deployed, protectingcommunitiesand allowing for a return to worship as quickly as possible.

National Violent Disorder Programme

The Prime Ministerhasannounced the immediate creation ofa programmeto stopcriminalsintent on causing violence and unrest on our streets.

The programmeis bringing together the best policing capabilities from across the country to share intelligence on the activity ofviolentgroups so the authorities can swiftly intervene to arrest them.

Local insight and data will be used to gain a national understanding of where these criminals areoperating, including the British Transport Police alerting where they see a spike in train ticket sales that could be linked toorganisedviolent disorder.

It will also consider how we can deploy facial recognition technology, which is already used by some forces, more widely across the country. This will mean criminals can be targeted,foundand brought to justice quickly.

How to show your support

Charity regulators have said there are many ways to show support for those affected by the tragedy, and thatmaking a donationto a registered, regulated charity offers donors assurance that their funds will be effectively overseen and accounted for.

TheCommunity Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside haslaunched an appeal to helprelieve financial hardship for victims, survivors and their families.

The Southport Strong Together Appeal will also help other charities and community organisations delivering projects and services in the Southport area to support emotional wellbeing, mentalhealthand bereavement support as well as community cohesion and violence prevention initiatives.

Package of support for Southport

The Prime Minister set out a package of support for Southport last week, to make sure the right support is in place for victims.

It will equip local leaders and agencies to make sure the needs of bereaved families are at the heart of the response, and to drive longer term efforts to bring the community together.

This comes alongside extensive care delivered by the NHS including specialist psychological and bereavement support services, and access to 24/7 crisis support.

Tosupport thelong-termrecovery of the area, government will work with local partners on new ways to equip local leaders to help bolster community cohesion and build local resilience.

This willincludesetting up aprogrammeof local community events and activities to help bring people together and createlong-lastingsupport networks drawing from local schools, businesses, faith groups, sportsclu

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