Yvette Cooper commits to ‘rapid review of extremism’ following Southport riots

The Home Secretary accused rioters involved in unrest following the fatal knife attacks on three young girls in Southport of “hijacking” the grief.

She also promised to deploy “thousands more” district police officers and community helpers as part of the five “next steps” to strengthen community cohesion and ensure adequate police enforcement in the future.

In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday, she said: “While millions of decent people across the country were praying for the grieving families, a criminal minority of thugs and extremists saw this as nothing more than an opportunity to exploit a city’s grief.

“I have long been concerned that not enough is being done to counter extremism, both Islamist extremism and right-wing extremism, and that there has been no proper strategy since 2015.

“I have ordered a rapid investigation into extremism to ensure we can deliver the strongest possible response to the toxic ideologies that undermine social cohesion and weaken the fabric of our democracy.”

She continued: “The reality is that the coordination infrastructure and systems that the police had to work with were too weak.

“And that is why I am calling on His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services to work quickly with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and the national public order leadership to learn the lessons from the events of this summer so that we can ensure strong co-ordination, smart systems and adequate public order policing is in place for the future.”

Her list of next steps included that Technology Minister Peter Kyle would “implement the measures in the Online Safety Act to tighten the requirements on social media companies to take responsibility for the poison that spreads on their platforms.”

Later in the session, Labour MP for Southport Patrick Hurley said it was a “grotesque lie” that the rioters were acting on behalf of the people of Southport following the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar.

He added: “What happened in Southport in no way justifies someone throwing bricks at police, attacking people in their own cars or burning down buildings with people inside. And for someone to say otherwise is too horrific for words.”

Elsewhere, SNP MP Pete Wishart (Perth and Kinross-shire) called on Ms Cooper to “stop demonising asylum seekers”.

He said: “Does (Ms Cooper) accept the fact that the way immigrants and asylum seekers have been portrayed by a whole range of political voices has helped to promote, fuel and even encourage some of the scenes we have witnessed?

“And those who instigate such activities must be held accountable, as must those who spread the misinformation. And will she also contribute to this debate by talking a little more positively about immigration and stopping demonizing asylum seekers?”

Ms Cooper replied: “We should be having honest and practical debates about the issues, rather than debates that end up getting lost in rhetoric.”