• 3 months ago
Britain is grappling with escalating violence after a weekend of anti-immigration attacks raged across the country, culminating with rioters lighting fires at two hotels used to house asylum seekers while guests and staff were still inside.
Transcript
00:00I had a Cobra meeting this morning, which was an opportunity that I took to thank the
00:09police for their work over the last few days, to express my support for the police officers
00:14who have been injured and the communities impacted by this mindless thuggery.
00:19There are a number of actions that came out of the meeting.
00:23The first is we will have a standing army of specialist officers, public duty officers,
00:31so we'll have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.
00:36The second is we'll ramp up criminal justice.
00:38There have already been hundreds of arrests.
00:41Some have appeared in court this morning.
00:44I've asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those
00:49involved in the process, who will feel the full force of the law.
00:53And thirdly, I've been absolutely clear that the criminal law applies online as well as
00:59offline, and I'm assured that that's the approach that is being taken.
01:04Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest.
01:09It is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities.
01:16So the full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having
01:22taken part in these activities.
01:24In relation to the police, I'm absolutely clear that we will have the officers we need
01:29where we need them to deal with this disorder, and that is why the standing army has been
01:35set up, specialist officers ready to be deployed to support communities.
01:40On the question of prisons, firstly, we're monitoring it on a daily basis.
01:46I'm appalled that we've been put in this position by the previous government, that it's even
01:50a discussion, it's even a question that you have to ask me.
01:54But we will make this work and ensure that we've got the places that are needed to bring
01:58the perpetrators swiftly to justice.
02:00So on both those fronts, I'm confident that we can absolutely make sure that those engaged
02:07in this activity do feel the full force of the law.
02:11My focus is on ensuring that we've got the right people carrying out their duties to
02:17ensure that our streets are safe.
02:21For the public, that is the first duty of government, and that's where my absolute focus
02:26is.
02:27My focus is on making sure that we stop this disorder, that the criminal sanctions are
02:32swift and be seen to be followed, which is why I've asked for consideration to be given
02:38to the earliest identification and naming of those that are involved in this.
02:43Many have been arrested, some have been in charged, some of them are in court now.
02:48We're entitled to know who they are so they can be identified at the first opportunity.
02:54But that's where my focus is, and I think the vast majority of people watching this
03:00would say that's absolutely where my focus should be.

Recommended