Watchdog says police unprepared for scale of riots

Police were unprepared for the scale of disorder that broke out in part of the UK following the Southport knife attacks, a police watchdog has found.

Police intelligence did not predict the “rising tide of violent disorder well enough”, according to the review of their response to the worst UK unrest in more than a decade.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke praised officers for their “immense bravery and personal sacrifice” while protecting the public.

But he warned it was “clear” that police had missed opportunities to prepare for widespread disorder, and that earlier incidents involving “extreme nationalist sentiment” had been underestimated.

After Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar were fatally stabbed in Southport July 2024, a riot in the town was quickly followed by violent disorder across the country.

More than 600 arrests were made as police responded to what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described as “far-right thuggery,” with crowds targeting mosques and accommodation housing asylum seekers.

The review by His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services warned police intelligence should have “more fully” considered a series of earlier incidents that were indicators of future unrest.

These included disorder near hotels housing asylum seekers in Merseyside and Llanelli in 2023, as well as violence during Armistice Day in London.

“Our assessment of these incidents suggests that the risks of disorder were greater than the police believed them to be,” the review said.

It also found some forces had not fully acted on previous recommendations made following incidents of disorder, including the 2011 London riots.

“We shouldn’t have to repeat our recommendations,” the report noted.

It said a system to move officers between forces to bolster resources was brought in “too late” during the riots, and there were also concerns some officers had been sent out in regular uniform rather than riot gear.

Police officers, it added, had been targeted deliberately by rioters, with many injured and some taken to hospital.

“The professionalism of those leading the response deserves credit,” Chief Inspector Cooke said.

“But the systems and processes they work under need to change.”

The review recommended impovements in forces’ ability to respond to widespread violent disorder, their mobilisation of public order and public safety resources, and their support for officers and staff.

“There is every possibility that similar violence and disorder could reoccur across the UK. The police service needs to be ready to respond,” said Chief Inspector Cooke .

The watchdog will publish a further report in 2025 focused on how social media affected the riots.