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Police officers injured amid standoff in Plymouth – England riots as it happened | Politics

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August 6, 2024
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Three police officers injured after “sustained violence” in Plymouth

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.”

Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening. D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour. https://t.co/lhKdif56ls

— A/CC Jim Colwell (@DCCJimColwell) August 5, 2024

Key events

A summary of today’s developments

Police have made 378 arrests so far since disorder broke out last week and the total is expected to rise each day, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.
Keir Starmer said a “standing army” of specialist police officers would be set up to deal with rioting and unrest. The PM said: “We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them,” the prime minister said, adding that “we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.”
Judges condemned the recent violent scenes as the latest wave of suspects arrested after protests and riots across the country appeared in court. Several suspects have faced charges in court on Monday, after a sixth day of disorder which broke out in the wake of a knife attack in Southport last week which left three girls dead. One judge described scenes of violence in Belfast as “absolutely disgraceful” as he refused bail to two men accused of taking part in disorder which followed an anti-immigration protest in the city on Saturday. In another court, a boy aged 14 admitted violent disorder after he was seen by police officers to be among a group of young people setting fireworks off in the direction of members of the public and a police carrier. Deputy district judge Liam McStay told Belfast magistrates court: “The events at the weekend were absolutely disgraceful: a concerted and deliberate attempt to undermine public order and to then domineer the community and there were racist elements to it.”
Superintendent Russ Dawe, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said “several” officers have been injured following disorder in Plymouth city centre. Some 150 officers were deployed to de-escalate the situation. Six people were arrested. A police van was also damaged.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said one child remained in hospital a week on from the Southport attack and all other patients had been discharged. Three girls, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King died, after the attack last Monday at a dance class. Eight other children and two adults were also injured.
Ministers are preparing an additional 500 prison places to cope with an influx of people expected to be held on remand over the next month, the Ministry of Justice said.
Downing Street criticised comments by Elon Musk who posted on X that “civil war is inevitable” under a video of violent riots in Liverpool. Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the violence came from a small minority of people who “do not speak for Britain” and said the prime minister did not share the sentiments of the billionaire, who has previously been criticised for allowing far-right figures back on to his social media platform.
The worst of the far-right violence seen in England this weekend should be treated as terrorism, former police chief Neil Basu said, amid warnings over a new wave of unrest targeting migration lawyers.

The safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said perpetrators of violence in Birmingham “will face the consequences no matter who they are”.

The Home Office minister, who is the MP for Birmingham Yardley, wrote on X: “The police have attended all sites of violence tonight and all those perpetrating it will face the consequences no matter who they are.

“Thanks to all residents who have acted with grace and kindness and have kept people informed so actions could be taken.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Donegall Road area, and urged people to avoid the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas.

Video footage filmed by asylum seekers inside a Rotherham Holiday Inn Express shows far-right rioters making threatening gestures as they surround the premises.

Asylum seekers film rioters making threatening gestures as they surround Rotherham hotel – video

Superintendent Russ Dawe, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said “several” officers have been injured following the disorder in Plymouth city centre.

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.”

Three police officers injured after “sustained violence” in Plymouth

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.”

Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening. D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour. https://t.co/lhKdif56ls

— A/CC Jim Colwell (@DCCJimColwell) August 5, 2024

Riot police at the protests in Plymouth earlier today. Photograph: Twitter/X

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.”