Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said swift justice, including sentencing, has been a deterrent to more violent disorder. At least a dozen people were jailed on Thursday, August 8, for their part in the riots of the past 10 days, with more expected to be sent to prison on Friday, including some on live television. The Prime Minister addressed his third emergency Cobra meeting since the first riot in Southport on July 30 and after many planned protests failed to materialise on Wednesday, August 7 night.
Sir Keir told the meeting that police need to remain on “high alert”, the PA news agency understands. He is understood to have said there was no doubt that levels of policing in the right places and swift justice over the past week, including sentencing, have acted as a deterrent to disorder. Police told to remain on 'high alert' over disorder Earlier in the day he told reporters that Wednesday night’s events turned out “much better than was expected” and “anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law”.
“It’s important I repeat that because we need to make sure that in the coming days we can give the necessary reassurance to our communities, many of whom – I’ve been talking to some this morning – are very anxious about the situation.” His comments came as the final child injured in the Southport stabbings which sparked the riots was discharged from the hospital on Thursday and will.