Staggering figures reveal millions of pounds spent hunting down ‘Southport riot’ accused

More than 1500 people have been arrested across the UK
21st November 2024

More than thirty million pounds has been spent in the response to UK riots fuelled by disorder in Southport.

Top police chiefs have spoken to reporters this week to reveal that more than 1,000 people have been charged with riot related offences, with a total of 1,590 arrests across the country.

Around 99 of those arrests were for online based offences police say, as insistent of violence became a huge issue for emergency services in the summer.

Matt Jukes, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters : “There’s a legend which has emerged that the thought police were out arresting hundreds and hundreds of people for having opinions. And the reality is that they were arrested because of their suspected involvement in violence or criminal damage and direct harms in communities.

He added that people who “directly incited violence” have been convicted and will continue to be investigated, but that some disinformation and incitement after the Southport attack came from outside UK.