From Street Clashes to Systemic Challenges: How PM Starmer’s Riot Response Experience Shapes His Approach to Deeper Unrest Issues

The 2011 London disturbances equipped Starmer with the skills to quell upheaval, yet addressing the underlying causes of protests presents a greater challenge. The Prime Minister is adept at employing the legal system to quickly manage street disturbances in the UK. However, Adam Boulton points out that his administration faces the tougher task of resolving the more intricate and enduring issues that fuel the unrest.

Sky News pundit @adamboultonTABB

Monday, August 5, 2024, 1:

Each aggressive demonstration has its unique causes, yet clear skies do not contribute positively.

Throughout the year, law enforcement often jokes that "PC Rain" is the best patrol officer for maintaining peace on the streets. During the warm summer days and nights, the increase in outdoor activity and close interactions among people can lead to shorter tempers and more disturbances.

This hot weekend sees escalating tensions following the discovery of online posts urging demonstrations, with protesters often choosing mosques or hotels accommodating asylum seekers as their focal points.

On Saturday, violent confrontations occurred between protesters and law enforcement in multiple urban areas throughout the United Kingdom.

Current Update on Demonstrations: This Weekend's Turmoil to Date

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During this week's inquiry about potential "summer of riots," the prime minister sidestepped the query, focusing instead on particular recent incidents.

In the wake of demonstrations that erupted in Southport, London, Leeds, and other locations due to the tragic deaths of three young girls, Sir Keir has expressed that he is faced with "a faction deeply committed to violent actions." Consequently, he has made the decision "to assemble top law enforcement officials" to guarantee that "they respond with utmost severity, continuously and not just in the immediate future."

Managing riots effectively demands that law enforcement have the necessary authority and that perpetrators face expedited legal consequences.

Over time, however, there are two more intricate challenges: first, to address external influences like the internet that might have enabled disruptive behaviors; and second, the most challenging task of all, to determine how to address the complaints of those who are creating the chaos.

Starmer has gained expertise from dealing with the London riots

Sir Keir is well-versed in the legal aspects of managing unrest. He served as the Director of Public Prosecutions during the period of the "London riots" in August 2011.

Following the police shooting of Mark Duggan, a black individual, civil unrest erupted and persisted for several days throughout London and extended to other major urban areas such as Bristol, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Liverpool, Derby, and Nottingham. Approximately 3,000 individuals were taken into custody, with over 2,000 of them subsequently facing criminal charges and receiving jail terms.

The disruptions occurring this year do not match the magnitude of those in 2011.

Should further issues arise, Starmer will ensure that the authorities take similar actions to those he took previously.

He ensured that the courts operated around the clock to handle offenders and permitted magistrates to impose more severe and extended sentences.

"He believed the rapid processing of cases contributed to regaining control of the situation," he remarked following the events. He further explained, "It's not so much the duration of the sentence that deters individuals, but the risk of being caught and incarcerated. Seeing others apprehended and sentenced shortly after committing similar acts, broadcasted on television, sends a strong deterrent message."

It remains unclear how this will be received by courts and prisons, which are now significantly more congested than before.

Tightening internet restrictions might not be the solution

The Prime Minister is establishing a new police force aimed at addressing disturbances, although high-ranking officials insist that their departments already possess the necessary legal authority to manage these issues.

Suella Braverman, who was serving as Home Secretary at the time, criticized police departments for their lenient approach towards recent pro-Palestinian protests. In response, high-ranking police officials argued that they need to assess whether forceful actions during an unfolding event might escalate tensions further.

Contemporary methods like facial recognition and video recording enable authorities to identify and charge culprits later, under less chaotic conditions.

Law enforcement holds mixed feelings regarding calls to tighten control over the internet. It is widely acknowledged that social media platforms enabled rapid assembly of crowds in Southport and other locations.

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Experts indicate that instead of being events coordinated by a political group like the English Defence League, these gatherings frequently arise naturally through "post-organisational" networks, triggered by individual remarks on recent happenings.

These communications frequently contain baseless conspiracy theories, though they are deliberately crafted to avoid encouraging violence. They can originate from anonymous sources or even well-known public figures.

The perspective is that the internet serves as the primary tool for law enforcement to collect data in order to mitigate aggressive demonstrations. It is inevitable that organizers of such protests will utilize online platforms, necessitating police surveillance to monitor their activities.

A complete prohibition of the internet appears impractical in developed democratic nations. Efforts to outlaw "hate speech" have been largely unsuccessful, regardless of the strong libertarian beliefs held by the tech moguls who manage these platforms.

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Prime Minister needs to address fundamental issues and rely on favorable weather changes

Sir Keir maintains that the violence following the Southport stabbings is the work of "a tiny mindless minority" and a "gang of thugs" who are ready to travel. While this might be the case, it sidesteps addressing more profound societal problems.

The phrase "enough is enough" regarding immigration is echoed by both nonviolent demonstrators and aggressive individuals, and its impact extends beyond the scenes of unrest, reaching swing voters in areas such as Southport who chose Labour for the first time this year.

During the cabinet meeting held last Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Pat McFadden, a high-ranking government official, emphasized the immediate need to address pressing issues, particularly the reduction of small boat crossings. They noted that achieving this, while maintaining the support of Labour's core base, would pose a significant challenge, more so than swiftly administering justice to violent protesters.

The knifings are not the sole cause of significant disruptions this season.

Last month in Leeds, violent unrest erupted following an intervention by social workers in a family matter. Previously, there have been various incidents ranging from peaceful protests on widely supported community issues like Black Lives Matter to demonstrations calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The primary responsibility of political leaders is to address these motivations in a positive manner, though they do not have to concur with them.

Police leaders maintain that the reasons behind mob violence should not influence how their officers respond to it.

As long as the adverse weather persists, Sir Keir Starmer's primary wish is for residents in the affected regions to remain composed and indoors.

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