Southport updates as Keir Starmer returns and police give warning (2024)

Police confirm protest on West Derby Road 'ended without incident'

Merseyside Police has issued a statement this evening to confirm a planned far-right protest on West Derby Road has "ended without incident."

Hundreds of counter-protesters far outnumbered those who appeared to have gathered for the protest outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque on Friday.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss, said: “Tonight’s protest and counter protest was attended by approximately 350 people and there were no incidents of criminality. West Derby Road was closed to allow the protest and counter-protest to go ahead and I would like to thank the local community and motorists for their patience and understanding.”

Landmarks light up across the region in memory of Southport victims

Eighth man arrested as police issue update on far-right protest in Southport

An eighth man has been arrested following violent scenes in Southport on Tuesday. Police officers were attacked and riot vans set alight as violence erupted in and around St Luke’s Road on Tuesday, July 3. More than 50 police officers sustained injuries in the rioting.

A specialist team are currently looking through hundreds of hours of footage of the violent scenes so they can identify and arrest anyone involved. Today, August 2, police arrested a 32-year-old man from Wigan on suspicion of violent disorder. He remains in custody, where he will be questioned by detectives.

To read the full story click here.

Police officers attacked as Sunderland protest turns violent

Police officers have been attacked as a protest in Sunderland city centre turned violent.

The Press Association reported thart a police station has been set on fire in Sunderland city centre this evening (Friday), according to multiple videos posted on social media. Northumbria Police have yet to confirm this, but said in a post on X that its officers had been “subjected to serious violence”.

The post added: “The scenes that we are seeing are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Ensuring the public’s safety is our utmost priority.”

Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said he was “appalled” by disorder in the city centre on Friday night. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “Our city is not represented by a tiny minority causing trouble.

“(Northumbria Police) have my full support as they respond to criminal thuggery and work to protect all the communities of our city. Tomorrow the people of Sunderland will come together and continue to build the bright future that we have – a future where every community of our city feels safe and prospers.”

Liverpool landmarks light up pink in tribute to Southport victims

Landmarks have lit up pink across the region this evening as a mark of respect to everyone affected by Monday’s knife attack in Southport. Alice Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, all died after being stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday, July 29.

In tribute, Sefton Council has illuminated The Atkinson building in Southport with a pink light, and many other councils and landmarks have also followed suit. St George’s Hall, Liverpool Town Hall, the Cunard, The Mersey Gateway Bridge and hospitals across the north west lit up pink as a mark of respect on Friday evening. The landmarks will also light up over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday evening.

You can find our photo gallery here.

Scouse nan's defiant message to far-right protesters on city street

A Scouse nan shared a defiant message as she joined a counter-protest on a city street this evening. Pat, 71, from Toxteth, was one of hundreds of counter-protesters who gathered on West Derby Road on Friday evening to oppose a planned far-right protest outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque.

Hundreds of counter-protesters far outnumbered those who appeared to have gathered for the protest on the opposite side of the road. Pat, 71 was carrying a ‘nans against fascists’ sign up at the protest.

She told the ECHO: “I’m here to support the mosque if the fascists turn up. We need to show we oppose racist fascism wherever it is. We’ve got a good record of opposing them in this city.”

Read the full story here.

Prime Minister returns to Southport to meet shaken community

Sir Keir Starmer returned to Southport today to meet with members of a community still reeling from a week of tragedy and violence.

The Prime Minister made a short visit to the scene of Monday's devastating stabbing in Hart Street on Tuesday afternoon, laying floral tributes.

But Sir Keir was keen to return to the town and also visited Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, where many of the victims of Monday's attack were treated. In Southport, he met with community leaders including Mayor Steve Rotherham, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and representatives from the police, faith groups, health services and the education and voluntary sectors.

The Prime Minister then travelled to Alder Hey to thank staff for their hard work and enduring professionalism. Monday's tragic attack was followed by a night of violence on the streets of Southport on Tuesday.

Read more about it here.

Warning to protesters

Police have issued a warning to protesters ahead of the weekend. It comes after a major incident was declared by emergency services on St Lukes's Road, Southport on Tuesday, July 30 after violent scenes broke out.

In a statement issued today, Friday, August 2, Merseyside Police said it was "aware of online speculation" surrounding future protests in Merseyside. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said the force wanted to assure people police were "fully prepared" to deal with anyone intent on causing disorder.

She added: “This week, we have sadly witnessed the violence and harm caused by large-scale disorder up and down the country, including in our own community in Southport. We have also seen the brilliant and heartening response from the very people who live in these communities as they take it upon themselves to help clean-up the destruction and mess left behind.

"It’s clear that the people of Merseyside stand united against anyone who is intent on causing fear, destruction and violence. The disrespect that they showed towards victims and grieving families and the community is despicable, and I want to reassure residents that we are fully prepared for any possible disorder in the future."

Why only seven arrests have been made after Southport riots

Merseyside Police said investigators are currently reviewing "hundreds of hours of footage" regarding the violent protests from Southport this week. The force confirmed it had made seven arrests in connection to Tuesday night's events, which saw bricks thrown at officers, a vehicle set on fire and a local mosque badly damaged.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told the ECHO the following afternoon that 54 officers and three police dogs were injured.

Following Wednesday's disorder in London, the Metropolitan Police said its officers had made over 100 arrests. The ECHO has been contacted by a number of concerned residents regarding why only seven people have so far been arrested regarding the riots in the north Sefton town.

The ECHO's crime reporter Paddy Edrich explains why here.

Alder Hey explains where £350,000 raised after Southport stabbing will go

Alder Hey has released an update after Taylor Swift fans raised over £350,000 to support the charity in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Taylor Swift fans acted quickly after the horrific news. Cristina Jones and Holly Goldring run a Taylor Swift UK and EU Facebook fan group, which is where they heard about the devastating news on Monday. They set up a fundraiser with money going towards the hospital.

You can read more about the JustGiving page that was set up here.

Landmarks will light up in pink

Southport will light up pink as a mark of respect and solidarity with everyone affected following Monday's attack. Alice Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, were fatally stabbed when a knifeman entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Hart Street in Southport.

In tribute, Sefton Council will illuminate The Atkinson building in Southport with a pink light, and many other councils and landmarks will also participate. St George’s Hall, Liverpool Town Hall, the Cunard, The Mersey Gateway Bridge, Chester Town Hall and hospitals across the north west will also light up pink as a mark of respect on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.

Read more here.

Section 60 Order in Southport

In a statement, Merseyside Police said:

We can confirm that a further Section 60 Order has been introduced in Southport this evening (Thursday 1 August) giving officers additional powers to search suspects.

The Section 60 Order was introduced at 6pm today, Thursday 1 August, until 6pm tomorrow (Friday 2 August) and extra officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence to reassure communities.

The Order, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals in the area and is designed to minimise serious violence.

It has been introduced following the disorder witnessed in Southport on Tuesday night and to prevent any further incidents of disorder or criminality.

The area incorporates the entirety of Southport Town centre, including Sussex Road and St Luke’s Road and covers the villages of Ainsdale, Hillside and Birkdale.

Community Inspector Doug Chadwick said: “Section 60 orders are an effective tool in our efforts to protect the public from the violence and destruction the town saw on Tuesday, allowing us to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality.

“People living in Southport will now be used to seeing a highly visible police presence on their streets. I hope that presence is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to our officers.

"The support of the community in Southport continues to be a huge source of comfort and strength for everyone - our officers included.

“We will continue to do keep people safe and ask that anyone with information about criminality and disorder help us in that effort by getting in touch.”

You can DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111."

Will the number of officers increase on the streets?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government has “already made a commitment to increasing police numbers” after he was asked if his announcement will increase the number of officers on the streets.

Put to him that the new Labour MP in Hartlepool said Cleveland Police was “simply overwhelmed” and asked if the announcement would increase the number of police officers on the street, Sir Keir said: “Well, we’ve already made a commitment to increasing police numbers. That’s a commitment we made into the general election, and particularly police officers to work in neighbourhood policing.

“That did come up in the meeting today in terms of the capability that’s needed, but, look, to be frank, what happens in the next few weeks matters, and that isn’t a question on its own of recruitment, which takes longer, it is a question of co-ordinating the response, making sure the capability that we’ve got to share intelligence, shared data, have a co-ordinated response, and to act as quickly as possible in cases so that arrests are followed swiftly by charging.”

Asked if he will be providing extra police resources and preparing “any clampdown on the far-right groups that are being blamed for this”, he said: “In relation to the violence that we’ve seen, the whole point on pulling together the meeting today was to have a co-ordinated response.

“The clear message from police and law enforcement is not that they need more powers, I think we have to wean ourselves off the idea that the only response is to pass more legislation every time we have a challenge in front of us, is to use the existing powers that we’ve got, pulling together the intelligence, the data, making sure that that is being shared across police forces, and that as these groups sort of bounce from chief constable to chief constable around the country, we have the same robust response to them, and that we’re clear that this is violent disorder. It’s not protest, and that needs to be the starting position of the police in response to it.”

'Nobody but nobody should pretend that they are speaking for those families'

The Prime Minister said: “Nobody but nobody should pretend that they are speaking for those families when they involve themselves in activity like this, because they are putting what is now the single most important thing for those families, which is to grieve properly and to have justice to which they are entitled, and that’s why this is so important.”

Asked what his message was to Muslims who may be concerned after a mosque was targeted in the disorder in Southport, he said: “In relation to the Muslim community, let me be very clear: I will take every step that’s necessary to keep you safe.

“Mosques being attacked because they’re mosques – the far right are showing who they are. We have to show who we are in response to that.”

That concludes the press conference.

PM announces 'national capability' across police forces

This includes:

• Shared intelligence between forces;
• Wider deployment of facial recognition tech;
• Criminal behaviour orders to restrict people's movements.

Sir Keir said: “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. We must have a policing response that can do the same. Shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial recognition technology and preventative action, and criminal behaviour orders to restrict their movements, before they can even board a train. In just the same way that we do with football hooligans.

“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, it’s happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere.

“That is the single most important duty of government, service rests on security. We will take all necessary action to keep our streets safe.”

'A gang of thugs got on trains and buses, went to a community that is not their own'

At a press conference in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said “fear is an understandable reaction” to the attack, but called on everyone to give families the space to grieve and authorities time to do their job.

“There will be a time for questions and we will make sure that the victims and families are at the heart of that process,” he said.

“That’s the very least that we owe these families. But we also owe them justice. So, while there’s 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.

“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 now turn to the actions of a tiny, mindless minority in our society, because in the aftermath attack, the community of Southport had to suffer twice.

“A gang of thugs got on trains and buses, 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 their community.”

'It’s crime. Violent disorder. An assault on the rule of law and the execution of justice'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the riots in reaction to the stabbings in Southport are “not protest” and “not legitimate” as he vowed not to permit a “breakdown of law and order”.

He said: “Make no mistake, whether it’s in Southport, London or Hartlepool these people are showing our country exactly who they are.

“Mosques targeted because they’re mosques, flares thrown at the statue of Winston Churchill, a Nazi salute at the Cenotaph.

“And so I’ve just held a meeting with senior police and law enforcement leaders, where we 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 circ*mstances, a breakdown in law and order on our streets.

“Because let’s be very clear about this. It’s not protest. It’s not legitimate. It’s 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.”

PM's message to Muslim communities

Asked to give a message to Muslim communities, Sir Keir says: "I will take every step that is necessary to keep you safe.

"The far right is showing who they are, we have to show who we are."

The Prime Minister says that's why the government held its meeting with police chiefs today to ensure the "strongest possible response" to protect all citizens, including Muslims.

Merseyside's muslim community on high alert

The Prime Minister is taking questions on what he can do to protect the Muslim communities in the UK, who are feeling unsafe now amid riots organised by far-right groups.

Today we spoke to members of the Merseyside Muslim community who are fearful after reports of potential further violent protests at mosquest in this region in the coming days.

Full story here

Starmer takes aim at social media companies

It was interesting to hear the Prime Minister taking aim at social media companies in his press conference today.

It is well known that misinformation has spread like wildfire on social media since the Southport attacks on Monday, which police chiefs said lead directly to the attacks on the mosque in the town on Tuesday evening.

It will be interested to see how the government moves forward with this message as many now feel social media is dangerously out of control.

Sir Keir said we need to be clear that this is "violent disorder" and not protests

Sir Keir said his meeting with law enforcement today was about creating a co-ordinated response.

This includes shared intelligence, establishing facial recognition and information shared across police forces.

Sir Keir said we need to be clear that this is "violent disorder" and not protests.

Southport "suffered twice"

Sir Keir calls protestors who tuned to violence following the stabbings a "tiny mindless minority."

He adds that following the stabbings, Southport "suffered twice" when people came to riot.

The PM asks for people to be given "the time to breathe"

The PM asks for people to be given "the time to breathe" and that the victims and families in Southport are at the "heart of the process".

Significant announcement expected

This is a big challenge for the new Prime Minister and one he will want to take swift and decisive action on.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce the launch of a new violent disorder unit to clam down on the sort of violent clashes we have seen this week.

Press conference will begin shortly

Keir Starmer holds press conference after Southport stabbings. This will begin shortly.

Four police chiefs have left Number 10

The meeting between the Prime Minister and senior police chiefs has now finished.

Four police chiefs have left Number 10 and all declined to answer questions on the meeting.

Sir Keir Starmer will speak to the press at 4pm.

We will bring you live updates.

What happened during the second night of riots over Southport killings?

Sir Keir Starmer has said “action will be taken” following “violent disorder” in parts of England in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

The Prime Minister summoned police chiefs to Downing Street on Thursday afternoon following scenes of violent unrest in London, Hartlepool and Manchester overnight, while a demonstration in Aldershot saw a tense stand-off with riot police.

At the meeting, he told the senior officers: “I wanted to send a message to each of you and, through you, your officers to say that this Government supports the police, supports what you are doing, and to be absolutely clear: This is not protest, this is violent disorder and action will be taken.

“This Government will make sure you have got the powers you need and will back you in using those powers.”

In London, more than 100 people were arrested after protesters in Whitehall launched beer cans and glass bottles at police and threw flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

The Met arrested 111 people for alleged offences including violent disorder, assaults on police officers, possession of knives and offensive weapons and breach of protest conditions.

“One of our colleagues was punched in the chest and another kicked multiple times,” Scotland Yard said.

Last night our officers faced unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence,” Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said.

“All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those impacted by the most dreadful attack in Southport. It is shameful that some have sought to exploit this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.”

A dedicated team of officers is working to bring charges, the force added.

Confrontations continued late into the night in Hartlepool, where demonstrators set fire to a police car and pelted officers with missiles, including glass bottles.

What time is Keir Starmer's emergency Downing Street press conference and how to watch?

Sir Keir Starmer will hold a press conference at approximately 4pm today.

You can watch the press conference on our ECHO Facebook page here.

Alternatively, it's expected that the BBC and Sky News will stream the meeting.

Serena Kennedy speaks to Sir Keir Starmer

Serena Kennedy, the chief constable of Merseyside Police, spoke to the meeting via video link.

She told the assembled ministers and police chiefs that the force was “determined to get justice” for the attack on Monday and to identify all those who took part in rioting on Tuesday in Southport.