Police officers injured amid standoff in Plymouth – England riots live | Politics

Devon and Cornwall Police said 150 officers are deployed in Plymouth city centre and “work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation” after officers were injured during clashes.

In a post on social media, the force said: “We currently have 150 officers deployed in Plymouth City Centre.

“Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated.

“Work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation.”

A Devon and Cornwall police officer said “sustained violence” had erupted following protests in Plymouth and that three officers had been injured during clashes in the city.

Speaking at the scene, bronze commander Inspector Ryan North Moore told Sky News: “This is not a protest anymore. In my opinion, this is violence. This is sustained violence.

“Unfortunately, large masonry was thrown at us, whether it was aimed at us or others or opposing groups – we don’t know yet. The investigation will identify that.

“But, yes, three officers down.”

Asked how difficult it was to police the protest, Inspector Moore added: “It’s off the scale today.

“With the resources we’ve got, it’s difficult.”

The acting police commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell, has praised the operation.

“Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening,” he wrote on X.

“D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour.”

At least three police officers have been injured so far in Plymouth.

Bottles, bricks and fireworks have been thrown into the crowd by far-right protesters, Sky News reported.

Police are attempting to push back demonstrators after protesters clashed with officers in riot gear.

Officers detained a man on the floor, PA reported.

The worst of the far-right violence seen in England this weekend should be treated as terrorism, a prominent former police chief has said, amid warnings over a new wave of unrest targeting migration lawyers, writes Vikram Dodd, Emine Sinmaz and Neha Gohil.

Police have made 378 arrests since the violence broke out last week, with rioters setting fire to a library, looting shops and storming hotels housing asylum seekers.

A far-right-led mob tried to set fire to the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on Sunday while people were inside. Some masked rioters hurled pieces of wood, bottles and chairs, and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers, 12 of whom were injured.

Neil Basu, Britain’s former head of counter-terrorism, said he believed the attack should be treated as an act of terrorism as he condemned the rioters as “bullies and cowards”.

“Trying to set ablaze a building with people inside, whom you have made clear you detest, is an act of violence against people and property with a racial cause designed to intimidate a section of the public – be it Muslims or asylum seekers,” he said.

“Not only does it fit the definition of terrorism, it is terrorism. It’s nothing short of an attempt at a modern-day lynching and the people who did it should be facing life imprisonment, not a five-year sentence for violent disorder.”

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said protesters who have “thrown projectiles at people” are “not what Plymouth is about”.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: “There is absolutely no place for violence on our streets. There’s no place for hate on our streets.”

Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, warned children who get involved in disorder could face life-long consequences.

“One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing,” he said.

“They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.

“For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders.

“Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.

“If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.”

Vikram Dodd

In Birmingham hundreds of people gathered after rumours of a far-right gathering in England’s second city.

So far no so called protest has emerged and sources said people were starting to disperse.

It is a sign of how tense the situation is across various communities.

Devon & Cornwall police officers have been attacked in Plymouth, the force said on social media.

‘We have seen a level of violence towards officers in Plymouth and a police van has been damaged. We are taking action against individuals who are intent on criminality. Arrests are ongoing’, the force posted on X.

Merseyside police said flight restrictions for drones introduced on Saturday have been extended in Liverpool city centre, according to PA.

The force said a temporary airspace restriction, known as an Emergency Restriction of Flying (ERF), put in place on Saturday will now run until 5pm on August 12.

It will be an offence for any aircraft to fly below 2,000ft above sea level in the designated area, within two nautical miles of the Royal Liver Building, without the explicit permission of Merseyside police.

“Drone and aircraft users flying inside the Restricted Airspace that have not been granted permission will be guilty of committing an offence and could be prosecuted,” the force said.

In Plymouth city centre, some far-right protesters have broken ranks to get closer to the riot police separating them from counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism, Sky News reported.

Avon and Somerset Police said a 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and is in custody as the investigation continues into disorder in Bristol on Saturday night.

The force has now arrested a total of 17 people for a range of offences, charging two and releasing 13 on police bail with conditions not to enter Bristol city centre.

“Significant planning was carried out last week to minimise the risk to the public ahead of the weekend and we will not hesitate to re-enact those plans should we need to,” the force said.

“We recognise the impact this has had on our communities and we are working closely with our partners and stakeholders, including faith leaders, to keep them updated.

“Neighbourhood officers are carrying out high-visibility reassurance patrols and these will continue over the coming weeks.”

Robyn Vinter

Was it naive to think it would be a peaceful protest, people wondered after the riot at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, where windows were smashed, police attacked and a fire escape briefly set ablaze with 250 people trapped inside.

The demonstration was to be held at noon on Sunday outside the Holiday Inn Express in Wath-upon-Dearne, known locally as Wath, a village north of Rotherham. The hotel is not a stranger to protests. It is contentious locally and had become the scene of anti-immigration outrage in the past – though there were few who anticipated what a terrifying turn Sunday would take.

But the signs that it would be a flashpoint for violence had been there all along. It is an area with deep, decades-long community tensions and a history of clashes over immigration. Over a weekend of escalating violence it flared again.

Among the substantial group of local residents who had come to tidy up on Monday morning, the mood was sombre. There was a huge sense of exasperation with their own community and those who stoked violence from farther afield.

Locals recalled only half an hour of peace before the first missile was thrown. Within two hours more than a dozen hotel windows were broken, rioters had entered the hotel and, in what police described as a “particularly sickening moment”, attempted to set the building on fire. It was, police said, “a concerted effort to cause … serious harm to those inside”.

Libby Brooks

Scotland’s first minister John Swinney and justice secretary Angela Constance have met members of the country’s Muslim community to express solidarity following the Islamophobic and racist rioting that took place in England and Northern Ireland over the weekend.

Following the meeting at Edinburgh Central Mosque this afternoon, Swinney said that such behaviour “will not be tolerated in Scotland”.

“I have always been proud that Scotland is a diverse, multicultural country. The Scottish Government is unequivocally committed to championing the rights of all of our citizens, including strengthening the already resilient communities where people live in peace. I am grateful to have met with members of our Muslim community and those who represent asylum seekers today, to pledge our support and reiterate the point that Scotland is a welcoming society”.

The pair also met senior Police Scotland officers to discuss preparedness and providing reassurance to communities. Swinney said he had received assurances that Police Scotland are prepared to deal with any similar situation in Scotland should it arise.

Elon Musk has used his X platform to question Keir Starmer’s response to the riots.

The prime minister tweeted a clip of a statement he gave this morning, where he reiterated his warning to rioters that they will face justice and offered his support to Muslim communities targeted by the far right.

“We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities,” his tweet read.

Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

The health secretary Wes Streeting condemned “far right agitation” which led to the disorder.

After footage on social media showed looters stealing from a cosmetics store in Hull, Streeting said: “Don’t tell me that people are just expressing legitimate grievances while they have got their hands full of stuff from Lush.”

His comments came at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he also warned of the “existential threat to democracy” from disinformation on social media.

And the justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said those involved in “far-right thuggery” should expect to “face the full force” of the justice system.

Mahmood said: “The far-right thuggery we have witnessed on our streets is completely unacceptable and contrary to the British notion of rule of law.

“The Prime Minister has been clear from the outset that those involved should expect to face the full force of our justice system.

“My message to anyone who chooses to take part in this violence is simple. The police, courts and prisons stand ready and you will face the consequences of these appalling acts.”

Riot police are standing between two groups of protesters in Plymouth.

One demonstration is organised by Stand Up To Racism, the other by another group who have publicised their protest with slogans such as “keep our children safe” and “stop the boats”.

There are reports of smoke bombs being thrown.

Lancashire Constabulary said it has launched an investigation after a report of criminal damage in Burnley Cemetery after paint was poured across headstones in a Muslim burial area.

“The investigation into this matter is very much ongoing.

“We are taking this matter incredibly seriously and this is being treated as a hate crime,” the force said.

The leader of Burnley Council, Afrasiab Anwar, said: “What type of evil individual(s) would undertake such outrageous actions, in a sacrosanct place of reflection, where loved ones are buried, solely intended to provoke racial tensions?

“We are working with the police to identify the perpetrator(s) and to ensure they are reprimanded at the earliest opportunity. There is CCTV footage at the cemetery which the police are working through, and we are working with the police to ensure a heightened police presence in the area.

“The council have made arrangements for the graves to be cleaned by a specialist memorial mason as a matter of urgency and the affected families are being contacted.

“There are heinous individuals who are looking to provoke a reaction in our communities. With actions like this, it is extremely difficult to remain calm, but I would urge you not to react to the provocation.”