Attorney general donates books to library targeted in riots

Mr Hermer also commented on the “swift and severe” justice that followed the riots across the country, which he said had played a “major and crucial role” in bringing an end to disorder.

“People who were minded to carry on with criminal activity got the clearest message within days that there is a price to pay and people saw in the clearest and starkest terms that justice can be swift and it can be severe.

“I think that played a major role in getting our streets safe,” he said.

“I don’t think that anybody can be under any doubt at all that when you engage in the type of criminality that we saw, punishment will be very severe indeed.”

He added that people could not “hide behind a keyboard” and authorities would “prosecute those who incite racial and religious hatred online”.

“Anybody who commits a serious offence will find themselves in a cell”.