Keir Starmer holds another emergency COBRA meeting as far-right riots sweep UK
The Prime Minister is set to chair a second Cobra meeting as police across the country brace for an eighth night of violence.
Sky News report Keir Starmer to hold second Cobra meeting on riots
Sir Keir Starmer will chair another emergency Cobra meeting this evening as riots continue to sweep the UK.
The meeting of the Government's emergency response committee is the second in two days as officers anticipate further disorder tonight and tomorrow.
Relevant ministers and police chiefs will attend the meeting on tackling the violent disorder that has been taking place around the country.
It comes after the Prime Minister held a Cobra meeting yesterday following shocking scenes in UK towns and cities over the weekend which saw rioters storm hotels housing asylum seekers.
Concerns have also been raised that immigration law specialists could be at risk after a list of solicitors' firms and advice agencies was shared in chat groups as targets for gatherings in the coming days.
Sir Keir told his senior ministers at today's Cabinet meeting that "99.9% of people across the country want their streets to be safe and to feel safe in their communities".
He added the Government "will take all necessary action to bring the disorder to an end".
But Sir Keir has rejected calls from some MPs for Parliament to be recalled in the face of the rioting.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said around 100 people had already been charged in connection with the disorder of the past week, with some making court appearances on Tuesday.
Justice minister Heidi Alexander told broadcasters this morning that courts "could possibly" begin sitting "through the evening, the night, at weekends" in order to prosecute rioters swiftly.
Approximately 6,000 specialist officers will be at the ready by the end of the week for the so-called "standing army" of police announced by Sir Keir on Monday to deal with disorder.
But shadow home secretary James Cleverly has criticised the plans, and posed a series of questions to the Government.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: "Police forces across the UK have officers who are public order trained, but when not dealing with disorder they have other police duties.
"Will this 'standing army' of officers have no other duties? If so, what will they do when there are no riots? Or is Starmer expecting permanent riots?"
The widespread disorder across the country followed the fatal stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport last week.
Incorrect rumours - that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat - which spread on social media appear to have fuelled the unrest.
