Police were unprepared for the scale of unrest following the Southport knife attacks, a watchdog has found.
A review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate said police failed to predict the “rising tide of violent disorder” and underestimated earlier incidents tied to “extreme nationalist sentiment.”
Chief Inspector Andy Cooke praised officers’ bravery but noted missed opportunities to prepare for the riots, which spread nationwide after the fatal stabbings of three young girls in July 2024.
More than 600 arrests were made as crowds targeted mosques and asylum seeker housing, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to condemn the violence as “far-right thuggery.”
Kevin O’Sullivan and Talk International Editor, Isabel Oakeshott discuss.
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