Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told rioters they would “regret” participating in “far-right thuggery” after a week of escalating violence throughout England as the Government also announced emergency security for mosques amid the threat of further disorder. 

In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, 4th August, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned an attack on a hotel that was sheltering asylum seekers in Rotherham and vowed that those involved would “face the full force of the law.” 

Sir Starmer promised that the rioters and those “whipping up this action online and then running away themselves” would face consequences. 

Meanwhile, the Home Office announced mosques would be offered more excellent protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly tackle the threat of further attacks on places of worship. 

Sir Starmer said: “People in this country have a right to be safe, and yet we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques. 

“Other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric, so no, I won’t shy away from calling it what it is: far-right thuggery.” 

The Prime Minister indicated the response to the ongoing violence could take elements of how the 2011 riots were handled as examples. 

During the 2011 riots, Sir Starmer was director of public prosecutions. He said, “We do have standing arrangements for law enforcement, which means that we can get arrests, charges remanded in custody, and convictions done very quickly. 

“I was part of that in 2011 when I was director of public prosecutions, and I’m determined we will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice as quickly as possible.” 

Ministers have suggested that courts could sit 24 hours to fast-track prosecutions, a measure they implemented in 2011, while police forces have measures to draft extra officers to tackle potential unrest. 

The announcement comes after violent scenes of anti-immigration rioters attacking police and smashing windows of a hotel in Rotherham on Sunday. 

Masked men launched lengths of wood and sprayed fire extinguishers at officers outside a Holiday Inn Express, with some storming past a police line and into the ground floor of the hotel, which was later set on fire during the disorder. 

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that ten officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious. They also confirm that one person has been arrested and others should “expect us to be at the door very soon.” 

Furthermore, in Middlesbrough, a group of rioters smashed the windows of houses and cars while throwing objects at police officers on Sunday afternoon. One was seen shouting racist slurs, and another told police, “It’s our f—ng country.” 

 Similar bursts of violence have been seen throughout the week in Liverpool, Stoke-On-Trent, Nottingham, Sunderland, Belfast, Southport, Hartlepool, Hull, and elsewhere. 

Cleveland Police have said that nine arrests have been made so far. 

Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, said the deliberate torching of a hotel where people were known to be inside was “utterly appalling”, and police have Government backing to take “the strongest action”. 

 The Home Office’s new “rapid response process” offers mosques greater protection. In it, “rapid security” deployment can be requested to allow a return to worship as quickly as possible. 

Ms Copper said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country, and nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the hooligans, thugs, and extremist groups who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops or attacking people based on the colour of their skin.

“In light of the disgraceful threats and attacks that local mosques have also faced in many communities, the Government is providing rapid additional support through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, alongside the support from local police forces, and we repeat that anyone involved in this disorder and violence will face the full force of the law. 

“As a nation, we will not tolerate criminal behaviour, dangerous extremism, and racist attacks that go against everything our country stands for.”