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THE way police responded to the racist riots that engulfed Britain last summer was “entirely appropriate,” a parliamentary report found today.
The home affairs committee published a report on the police response to disorder that broke out following the murder of three young girls in Southport last July.
Allegations of “two-tier policing” emerged, with claims that police were more heavy-handed with people on the right than the left, which MPs have now condemned as “baseless.”
“Those participating in disorder were not policed more strongly because of their supposed political views but because they were throwing missiles, assaulting police officers and committing arson,” the report said.
Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “It is not surprising that the home affairs select committee report into the summer 2024 racist riots found no evidence to support the far-right two-tier policing lie.
“The two-tier policing that does exist is not what the far right claim, it is reflected in deep-rooted institutional racism that sees black people disproportionately die in police custody and in the criminal justice system.”
The committee noted limitations on what could be published about the then unnamed suspect later found guilty of the Southport murders, due to contempt laws.
The report said this “created a vacuum where misinformation was able to grow” and that it is “clear that neither the law on contempt nor existing CPS guidance for the media and police are fit for the social media age.”
It welcomed a Law Commission review which will look at whether or how the contempt law needs reform.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is always important that we always learn lessons, and we are working closely with policing to improve national decision-making, and to ensure that officers get the support they need to keep our streets safe.”
“We also agree social media has put well-established principles around how we communicate after attacks like this under strain, and we must be able to tackle misinformation head on.”
