Prime Ministers Office 10 Downing Street
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This week we are a nation in shock.
A country coming to terms with an attack so inexplicably vile
That fear is an understandable reaction.
Our first thoughts of course are with the families at the heart of this
Their pain is unimaginable.
And so I call on everyone to give them and indeed the wider community at Southport
The space to grieve.
And time for the authorities in Merseyside
To do their job.
There will be a time for questions.
And we will make sure that the victims and families in Southport
Are at the heart of that process
Thats the very least that we owe these families.
But we also owe them justice.
So while theres a prosecution that must not be prejudiced
For them to receive the justice that they deserve
The time for answering those questions is not now.
And I remind everyone that the price for a trial that is prejudiced
Is ultimately paid by the victims and their families.
Who are deprived of the justice that they deserve.
Let me turn now to the actions of a tiny, mindless minority in our society.
Because in the aftermath of this attack
The community of Southport had to suffer twice.
A gang of thugs, got on trains and busses
Went to a community that is not their own
A community grieving the most horrific tragedy
And then proceeded to throw bricks at police officers.
Police officers who just 24 hours earlier
Had been having to deal with an attack on children in theircommunity.
Their community.
And make no mistake
Whether its in Southport, London or Hartlepool
These people are showing our country exactly who they are.
Mosques targeted because they are Mosques.
Flares thrown at the statue of Winston Churchill.
A Nazi salute at the Cenotaph.
And so Ive just held a meeting with senior police and law enforcement leaders
Where weve resolved to show who we are.
A country that will not allow understandable fear
To curdle into division and hate in our communities.
And that will not permit, under any circumstances
A breakdown in law and order on our streets.
Because lets be very clear about this.
Its not protest.
Its not legitimate.
Its crime
Violent disorder.
An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice.
And so on behalf of the British people
Who expect their values and their security to be upheld
We will put a stop to it.
I want to thank all of the police officers, across the country
Who have already, as they so often do
Stood up to intimidation and violence in the past few days
And indeed, throughout the summer.
And let me be clear the meeting this afternoon was not about pointing the finger of blame
That is not how this Government of Service conducts its business
Because it doesnt work.
Rather this was a meeting to pull together our response
A response both to the immediate challenge
Which is clearly driven by far-right hatred.
But also - all violent disorder that flares up.
Whatever the apparent cause or motivation we make no distinction
Crime is crime.
And so - to that end
I can announce today, that following this meeting
we will establish a national capability, across police forces
To tackle violent disorder.
These thugs are mobile
They move from community to community
And we must have a policing response that can do the same.
Shared intelligence
Wider deployment of facial recognition technology
And preventive action criminal behaviour orders
To restrict their movements
Before they can even board a train
In just the same way we do with football hooligans.
And let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them
Violent disorder clearly whipped up online
That is also a crime.
Its happening on your premises.
And the law must be upheld everywhere.
That is the single most important duty of Government
Service rests on security.
And we will take all necessary action
To keep our streets safe.