UPDATE: Dartford councillor charged with encouraging violent disorder
He was arrested on Thursday after a video emerged of him addressing a crowd in London
Last updated 9th Aug 2024
Update: A former Labour councillor has been charged with encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd in London on Wednesday.
Ricky Jones, 57, was arrested on Thursday after a video emerged in which he appeared to call for far-right protesters’ throats to be “cut” during a demonstration the previous day.
Earlier: Police have arrested a man in his 50s in south-east London on suspicion of encouraging murder after a video emerged of a Labour councillor calling for far-right protesters' throats to be "cut".
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, in which the original video was linked, the force said: "Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London.
"He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act. He is in custody at a south London police station."
The man has also been arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act following the incident in Kent on Wednesday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
A Labour spokesperson confirmed that Ricky Jones, a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, has been suspended by the party in relation to the video.