UK riots live: Starmer chairs emergency Cobra meeting amid fears of violence at immigration centres

Durham Constabulary said officers had issued dispersal orders to 37 people, aged between 13 and 38, who arrived in Durham city centre on Tuesday evening.

A 15-year-old boy, from Crook, was arrested for a public order offence.

The force said that, following intelligence of planned disorder this evening, a dispersal order was put in place for the city centre alongside a heightened police presence.

The dispersal order will remain in place until noon on Wednesday.

Police said they had received no reports of incidents of disorder or criminal damage in the city centre this evening.

Two more people have been charged after disorder in Southport and Liverpool city centre.

Merseyside Police charged Philip Prescot, 38, of Sefton Street, Southport, with violent disorder in connection with trouble in Southport last Tuesday.

David Frank Hill, 38, of Bianca Street, Bootle, has been charged with violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court at 9.45am on Wednesday.

Inquests are to be opened into the deaths of three girls who were fatally stabbed in Southport.

Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died after a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space on Monday July 29.

Their inquests will be formally opened at Bootle Town Hall in Merseyside.

Hundreds of floral tributes have been left at the scene of the attack in Hart Street and a number of vigils have taken place in the town to remember the girls.

During a service at St Patrick’s Church in Southport on Tuesday afternoon, one speaker fought back tears as she said: “Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep smiling and dancing with the girls.”

She read out another message from the family, which said: “We love you Alice, Your smile is extremely contagious and full of joy. You never fail to uplift everyone’s mood.”

The service, led by Father John Heneghan, featured hymns and speeches read in both English and Portuguese.

One of Alice’s classmates said: “You will be in our hearts forever. You are the most kindest person in the world, and we know that you are the strongest girl we have ever met.” A member of staff from Alice’s school read out messages from her classmates, including one which said: “Alice, so kind and caring, with a smile so bright, forever in our hearts.”

The congregation gathered for a rendition of You Are My Sunshine outside the church following the ceremony.

Elsie’s great-aunt described her as “lovely, sweet and gentle”, BBC News reported. Jean Stevenson said her grand-niece was “absolutely the sweetest child you could ever wish to meet”.

More than half of Britons think the Tory governments of the past 14 years bear some responsibility for the riots.

Polling by YouGov suggests 24% of people think the 2010-2024 administrations hold a “great deal of responsibility” for the unrest, and 31% reckon they hold “a fair amount”.

Justice Minister Heidi Alexander warned thugs there was a ‘prison place waiting for them’.

Ms Alexander told the Mirror: “We will make sure that anyone who is given a custodial sentence as a result of the riots and disorder, there will be a prison place waiting for them.”

Judges will decide the severity of the sentences, she said, adding: “Anyone watching our television screens and seeing the images that you and I have seen of this violent disorder, the racist attacks, the dangerous extremism, will realise that in all likelihood there are some very serious offences that have been committed.”

Pressed on how long sentences could be, she said: “Ten years, seven years, five years for some of the offences that I’ve just spoken about.”

The 88-year-old’s family have begged potential rioters to stay away from their “Nana” in West Bridgford, Nottingham, after her address was discovered on a list of 60 immigration centres with a message suggesting they should be the target of demonstrations on Wednesday.

A Northern Ireland police chief said an “element” of paramilitary involvement was behind recent disorder in Belfast, as violent anti-immigration protests sparked by stabbings in Southport continue.

Police came under sustained attack and the victim of a suspected hate crime is in a serious condition in hospital following the disorder in Belfast on Monday night.

Merseyside Police charged Philip Prescot, 38, of Sefton Street, Southport, with violent disorder in connection with trouble in Southport last Tuesday.

David Frank Hill, 38, of Bianca Street, Bootle, has been charged with violent disorder in Liverpool city centre on Saturday.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court at 9.45am on Wednesday.

James Nelson of Victoria Road, Horwich, Bolton pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage during the disorder in Bolton.

He was sentenced to two months imprisonment at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 6 August 2024).

Another man received a community order for his role in the protest.

Liam Powell (22/09/1995) of Hendon Court, Buckshaw Village, in Chorley, was given a 12-month community order which will be in place until August 2025.

Powell pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine during the disorder on Sunday in Bolton.