UK disorder: Starmer says swift justice acting as riot deterrent

In recent days Elon Musk, the owner of X, has been heavily criticised for posts about the disorder in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

The billionaire was called “deeply irresponsible” by Justice Secretary Heidi Alexander for posting that “civil war is inevitable” in the UK.

He also reposted an image of a fake news headline about the UK’s response to riots.

Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has warned that those “intent on violence and destruction have not gone away”.

“We’ve seen on the footage that we get back from the scene, young people, children, are on the fringes of it, and in that mob mentality can get drawn in,” he said on Thursday.

“I think the youngest arrest was 11 years old. So, I think to have conversations with young people, children, teenagers over the course of the next few days is really, really important.”