UK Riot: Keir Starmer Puts Standing Police on Alert, 400 Arrested Over Violent Disorder 

Over 400 people have been arrested after far-right violence swept across the country, with the prime minister setting up a “standing army” of specialist police officers to deal with further attacks.

Sir Keir Starmer has held an emergency Cobra meeting after far-right mobs carried out racist attacks and set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and Tamworth.

Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said: “We will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.

“The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.

“I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the Law.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, Sir Keir told perpetrators they would “regret” engaging in “far-right thuggery” and vowed that those involved in the escalating disorder would “face the full force of the law”.

The necessary support must be put in place to enable the courts to deal with those charged following the violent disorder, said the Law Society president, as he described how the “goodwill” of solicitors being called on to work extra hours is “fast running out”.

Nick Emmerson, Law Society of England and Wales president, said: “It is paramount that justice is done for all those who have been involved in, or are victims of, the riots.

“We commend the UK government for its swift response and want to see that the necessary support and resources are provided for both prosecution and defence lawyers, courts staff and judiciary in dealing with this emergency.

“The criminal justice system has suffered significant neglect over the last decade and has less resilience and flexibility with severe backlogs in the Magistrates and Crown Courts.

“The criminal defence profession is also depleted and over-worked and the goodwill of the solicitors who are being called on to work additional antisocial hours is fast running out.”