Prime Minister wants rioters 'named and shamed' as Manchester Council leader calls for 'solidarity'
It follows unrest in towns and cities across the country over the past week
A "standing army" of specialist police officers is being assembled to crack down on rioting, the Prime Minister said as he called for perpetrators to be named and shamed.
Sir Keir Starmer vowed to "ramp up criminal justice" after an emergency Cobra meeting was called in the wake of a sixth day of disorder which saw rioters storm hotels housing asylum seekers.
Police clashed with crowds one week on from the Southport stabbings as the escalating violence continued over the weekend across the country.
So far, there have been 378 arrests since the violence broke out last week, with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) warning the total was expected to rise each day.
Several suspects faced charges in court on Monday, as ministers and police chiefs descended on Westminster for the meeting setting out the response for the coming days in a bid to clamp down on further unrest.
Calls for the army to be brought in have so far been dismissed, with the Government insisting the police already have the resources needed to respond.
Setting out the action to be taken after the meeting, the Prime Minister said: "The first is 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."
He issued a similar warning to anyone whipping up violence online as the Technology Secretary said social media companies providing "a platform for this hate" must go further in tackling it.
Downing Street also criticised X owner Elon Musk for claiming "civil war is inevitable" in the UK, with officials suggesting online misinformation fuelling disorder on Britain's streets may be being amplified by foreign state actors.
Meanwhile, the leader of Manchester City Council has released a statement calling for "compassion, understanding and solidarity":
Councillor Bev Craig said: “Following a weekend that saw a number of serious incidents of unrest in towns and cities across the country, we know that our communities will be feeling understandably anxious and uneasy. We would like to reassure our residents that we will not tolerate disorder in our streets.
“Manchester’s diversity is our strength, and it is now more important than ever that we support one another with compassion, understanding and solidarity.
“I am deeply conscious that some of our communities, especially minority communities, are anxious about discrimination, abuse, anti-Muslim sentiment and racism - much of which is playing out on social media, alongside misinformation and other forms of hate.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community and we will continue to work with colleagues at GMP to monitor local concerns and make sure that Manchester remains a welcoming and safe place. As such, there will be an increased police presence in our neighbourhoods, and we want to be clear that officers are there primarily to provide visibility and reassurance.
"We fully support GMP in taking robust action against anyone who is intent on bringing violence to our city. Swift action is needed to bring people to justice. And we would also like to thank Council staff, officers at Greater Manchester Police, and other partners who helped to keep Manchester safe this weekend under very challenging circumstances.
"There is no justification for criminal behaviour and the actions of the perpetrators undermine everything that Manchester stands for.
"We are proud to be a vibrant, tolerant and accepting place – and we know there is more that unites us than divides us. Now is the time we come together to show what this means.
"There is no place for hate in our city."