Football-hooligan style crackdown on riot thugs with new unit to tackle violence announced by PM after Southport unrest

MINDLESS thugs who rioted in the wake of the Southport stabbings will face a football-hooligan style crackdown, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The PM today promised the far-Right will not "coordinate" a "summer of riots" on his watch.

He unveiled a new National Violent Disorder Programme, which will see cops share intelligence and use facial recognition tech more widely.

Train ticket sales will also be monitored and quick-response teams will be deployed to violence hotspots to catch rioters before they can cause disorder.

The PM's announcement comes after he met with police chiefs to discuss the escalating violence across the country.

More than 100 people were arrested in central London on Wednesday - as officers clashed with protesters on Whitehall during a demonstration.

Unrest also broke out in Hartlepool, where eight people were arrested, several officers were injured and a police car was set on fire.

In a televised speech from Downing Street, the PM blasted the actions of a "tiny, mindless minority" after violence spread across the country over the Southport attack.

He promised the Government would “ensure this is met with the most robust response in the coming days and weeks”.

Sir Keir also said there must be justice for the victims of the attack but the time for answering questions is "not now".

He added: "I remind everyone that the price for a trial that is prejudiced is ultimately paid by the victims and their families."

Setting out how he will crack down on the riots after meeting with police chiefs, he 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, 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."

The PM also told social media companies the law must be upheld everywhere over disorder "whipped up online".

Wednesday's night disorder followed similar scene in Southport on Tuesday near to the tragic killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Officers wielding shields were forced to push hundreds of demonstrators away as they slung around a dozen glass bottles towards the police.

Footage shared on social media from London on Wednesday night showed flares lit in the street as members of the crowd chanted "save our kids" loudly and waved national flags. 

Other protesters - many of whom were suspected of being from the far-right - attempted to kick down a fence and were confronted by riot police while some set off firecrackers sparking loud bangs.

Large crowds were seen holding their fists in the air with numerous police vans lined up in front of The Cenotaph.

The demonstration named 'Enough is Enough' saw attendees told that they can only protest in Whitehall between 7pm and 8.30pm.

Superintendent Neil Holyoak, who led the policing operation, said:  “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.

“Everyone has a right to protest and we continue to balance the right to lawful protest with everyone’s right to go about their lives without fear or serious disruption - which is why we have put conditions in place and deployed more officers across London."

The rioting followed a frenzied stabbing attack in Southport on Monday at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.

The attack saw Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, fatally stabbed.

Speculation about the alleged attacker's identity circulated online, seeing the tension that already existed after Monday's horrific attack explode into riots.

Despite social media claims, cops stressed that the suspect was born in Cardiff.

Southport locals last night condemned the explosion of violence following the killings.

Among them was Norman Wallis, 61, who said: “It was mayhem here,
like a war-zone. But this wasn’t the people of Southport. It was organised criminals who have hijacked our town’s collective grief.

“They haven’t got the slightest care or consideration for how the families of the children are feeling.”