At a time of great tragedy, loss, and mourning, we must stand firm against the cynical forces of hatred and division,
What did we do to deserve this? We've already lost our children,
Our work to identify all those responsible for the despicable violence and aggression seen on the streets of Southport on Tuesday continues
We currently have a high policing presence while officers respond to disorder that is taking place in Hartlepool following a protest that began this evening
I'm deeply concerned about the situation that is developing in Hartlepool this evening
This evening during a planned protest on Whitehall some disorder took place
This is the only thing that I will write, but please, please stop the violence in Southport tonight,
These events do not represent what Hartlepool is or the values that our people hold. Violence is never the answer.”
She just screamed at me: ‘He’s killing kids over there. He’s killing kids over there,
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Merseyside police to charge a 17-year-old boy, of Banks Lancashire, with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder following the tragic incident that took place in Southport this week.”
Following the tragic events in Southport, it is understandable the public have strong feelings about this shocking incident - but the subsequent violent, unlawful disorder that unfolded was completely unacceptable and driven by misinformation
The inciting of violence and violence on the street has absolutely no place in our democracy, and we have to crack down on those that perpetuate violence and spread it within our communities.
We have laws and we have proscribed groups and we do look at that and it is reviewed regularly
They were there purely for hooliganism and thuggery,
What we saw last night was infiltration by people from all over the country, stirred up by social media and then whipped up into a frenzy whereby they were attacking the very people that everybody earlier in the day was celebrating for being the heroes, for running towards danger. It leaves a very sour taste in the mouth that these people believe they can come here and divide our community.”
Southport is not used to global attention. To be known around the globe for a defining incident has shook us all to the core,
It really gets you. You can’t help but cry because of the outpouring of grief,
I am absolutely appalled and disgusted at the level of violence that was shown towards my officers,
But none of those people were the people of Southport,
These were just little kids at a dance class,