Law, first ruling in a week of riots
3 years in prison for protest… first prison sentence
The other two were sentenced to 20 and 30 months in prison respectively.
A British court has sentenced a perpetrator of far-right riots to prison just over a week after they erupted. According to the BBC, a British court sentenced Derek Drummond to three years in prison on the 7th (local time) for his role in the violence that occurred in Southport, Merseyside. At the same time, he was sentenced to two months in prison for assaulting a police officer.
It is the first time someone has been jailed for taking part in riots in Britain.
A British court has since sentenced Declan Gaylon to 30 months in prison for setting fire to a police van in Liverpool, Merseyside, and making malicious communications. Liam Riley was sentenced to 20 months in prison for his role in a violent protest and racially motivated acts.
“This man wrongly thought he could avoid justice,” Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Jonathan Egan told reporters at Liverpool Crown Court. “This is the tip of the iceberg. For those foolish enough to choose violence, this is the beginning of a painful journey.”
The prosecutor added, “Violence, riots and assaults will never be tolerated in this country. Hundreds of prosecutors are doing their best,” and warned, “Anyone who participates in riots, for whatever reason, will be swiftly punished.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer applauded the ruling, saying: “Anyone who incites violent disorder on our streets or online will face the full force of the law. This is swift action that we are taking.”
The previous day, Prime Minister Starmer said: “I expect there will be a substantial sentence before the end of this week. That will send a very strong message to everyone involved, both in person and online. You will be dealt with within a week and no one should be involved in this kind of disorder.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had charged 20 more people in connection with the riots, bringing the total number of people charged in connection with the violent protests to more than 140.
The number of arrests reported so far due to the riots alone exceeds 420.
Crowds who had announced a demonstration three days in advance smashed the windows of hotels used as temporary detention centres for migrants in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and Tamworth, Staffordshire, and set fire to them. In Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, rioters attacked migrant housing, and clashes broke out between anti-Islam protesters and Muslims in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Dozens of British police officers were killed and one was left in critical condition while trying to suppress the rioters.
Britain is reeling from riots, sparked by the spread of misinformation.
The riots began after unfounded information began to spread online that the suspect in the knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on the 29th of last month was an illegal Muslim from Syria.
The unrest spread across Britain, including the capital London, Liverpool, Nottinghamshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, and led to violence targeting Muslims and immigrants.
The British juvenile suspect has been released in an unusual move to correct false information, according to a British court. The suspect in the murder case is a Welsh-born man of Christian Rwandan parents.