Chief Constables questioned on police response to summer disorder
The Home Affairs Committee holds the opening session of its inquiry into summer 2024 disorder when it takes evidence from Chief Constables of police forces that responded to these incidents.
Meeting details
In July and August this year, significant disorder took place in towns and cities following the violent events in Southport. Incidents included attacks on hotels housing asylum-seekers, arson and looting, with police dealing with violent protests involving hundreds of individuals in many towns and cities across the UK.
An estimated 40,000 additional officer shifts were required by public order officers in a ten-day period and over 1,500 arrests were made in response to the disorder.
In this opening session, the committee will examine how police forces responded to the disorder. This will include how operational decisions were made and whether there was a consistent approach across police forces. The committee will look at the resourcing demands placed on different forces and the impact this had on other policing priorities, particularly neighbourhood policing. The committee will also consider claims of ‘two-tier policing’ and public perceptions of how disorder is dealt with.