Sir Keir Starmer has told police chiefs to remain “on high alert” after anticipation of more disorder largely failing to materialise on Wednesday.
The prime minister is understood to have told an emergency COBRA meeting that the levels of policing and swift justice in response to the past week’s unrest has “undoubtedly” worked as a deterrent.
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However, a Number 10 source told Sky News that while thanking the police and wider justice system, the PM’s main message was on the need to “maintain high alert”.
COBRA – which stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A – is often called in times of emergency, like civil unrest or flooding.
The meeting was the third high-level gathering of its kind following more than a week of violent disorder, which broke out in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
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False rumours circulated online about the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, being an asylum seeker – he was actually born in Cardiff.
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Wednesday was expected to be the biggest night of trouble so far, with 6,000 specialist officers on standby amid warnings of at least 100 far-right marches being planned.
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But the evening passed with “minimal disorder and only a handful of arrests”, according to police chiefs, with thousands of anti-racism campaigners instead taking to the streets.
Some rioters have already been jailed for up to three years as other suspects continue to face court over unrest across the country.
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The number of arrests made in connection with the unrest stands at 483, with 151 charges brought so far.
Those numbers are expected to “continue to rise significantly”, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said.
Sir Keir earlier told reporters that the lengthy sentences have “sent a very powerful message” but “it’s important that we don’t let up here”.
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“That’s why it’s very important I continue discussions coordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders to make sure we’ve got the right officers in the right place to keep pushing on the criminal justice response,” he said.
‘No complacency’
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Meanwhile, NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said that those “intent on violence and destruction have not gone away” and police were “very focused on the weekend”.
He suggested patrols could be stepped up at lower league matches when football season starts amid concerns there could be flare-ups at fixtures.
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While perpetrators had been “deterred” and “received a message from communities”, there are “many potential events still being advertised and circulated online”, he said.
“There’s no complacency at all in our mind that we need to be prepared for the days and particularly the weekend ahead. So the policing posture remains the same.”
