Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has tonight promised communities they will be safe amid fears of more far right unrest on Wednesday. He said the criminal justice system has shown a "robust and swift response" in the face of riots in the last week. Speaking to reporters after a Cobra meeting tonight Mr Starmer said: "Within a week, the criminal justice system really has shown the robust and swift response that is very important to sending a message in circumstances like this."
Sir Keir said he is expecting "substantive sentencing" for those taking part in the unrest "before the end of this week". Speaking to reporters inside Downing Street on Tuesday evening, he added: "Those involved will feel the full force of the law. Over 400 people now have been arrested, 100 have been charged - some in relation to online activity - and a number of them are already in court.
"I'm now expecting substantive sentencing before the end of this week. That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week. Nobody, but nobody, should be involved themselves in this disorder." You can read more about the far right riots here
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He reassured communities that "they will be safe" as concerns grow about further unrest. The Prime Minister told reporters: "They will be safe. We're doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it's in place, where support is needed for particular places, that is in place.
"Obviously it's a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need, that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.
"But the message has to go to those that are involving themselves in this disorder, which is 'you're wrong, you shouldn't be doing it, you will feel the full force of the law', as I hope we're demonstrating with these swift prosecutions."
More than 400 people have now been arrested in connection with riots in the last week. The government has also introduced more than 500 additional prison places.
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