Home secretary warns people involved in ‘violent thuggery’ will ‘pay the price’

The Home Secretary has warned that the country will not stand for ‘thuggery’ and courts will ’stand ready’ to insure people ‘pay the price’ after protests unsettled cities across the country.

‘Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,’ Yvette Cooper said on 3 August, amid weekend demonstrations in Liverpool, Sunderland, Hull and others.

Tensions are thought to have been partly triggered by misinformation about the alleged knife attacker in Southport, Merseyside, which resulted in the deaths of three children.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has given police his ‘full support’ to take action against ‘extremists’ as he held emergency talks with ministers.