Dozens of suspects still wanted over 2024 disorder

Dozens of suspected rioters are still wanted by police a year after disorder that broke out in the wake of the murders of three girls in Southport.

A website is being set up with details of about 40 suspects still wanted across five police force areas – Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cleveland, Northumbria and Avon and Somerset.

Violent scenes spread across the UK in the wake of the stabbings last year amid initial disinformation being spread about the man responsible.

The unrest led to a total of 1,876 arrests with 1,110 charged so far, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said.

Police chiefs have launched the national appeal for suspects wanted for “significant” offences from the disorder, including throwing bricks and seriously assaulting people.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith, who led the national response to investigating the riots, said: “One year on, we’ve still got some people who we have got good images of and we haven’t yet identified.

“I think the key thing is having a good image of someone is one thing, knowing who they are is another.

“We’re asking the public to have a look, and to see if they recognise anyone.”

Crown Prosecution Service data tracking cases related to the disorder showed 821 defendants out of 859 were convicted by the end of March.

It comes after repeated protests have been held outside a hotel in the Essex town of Epping, where migrants are housed, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

There have also been protests in Norfolk and London but so far wider unrest has been avoided.

Mr Drummond-Smith said: “We have a duty to facilitate protest but what we saw last year, and in a few isolated cases this year, is where it’s gone to criminality and to serious disorder.”

He said police hoped “swift” justice would deter anyone thinking about engaging in serious disorder this year.

The senior officer added: “We’ve made effective use of CCTV, body-worn video, and we’ve been able to bring a lot of people in front of the courts.”

Regarding the recent protests, he continued: “If we can respond to serious disorder swiftly, I think we can contain that and prevent it from spreading across the country.

“We’ve sharpened up our ability to mobilise quickly and move resources around the country.”

Last summer’s disturbances, which saw mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, were denounced as “far-right thuggery” by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.