Keir Starmer has vowed that rioters will feel the “full force of the law” following a second Cobra meeting tonight.
Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister said his focus was on “ensuring that our communities are safe”.
The meeting was called after riots erupted across Britain for an eighth consecutive night following a fatal stabbing in Southport last week.
Addressing reporters following the Cobra meeting, Starmer said: “The Cobra meeting was to coordinate our response to the disorder and I made it very clear on a number of occasions that those involved will feel the full force of the law.”
The Prime Minister, who confirmed more than 400 people have been arrested and 100 charged so far, added: “That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week and that nobody, but nobody should be involving themselves in this disorder.”
POLL OF THE DAY: Do you feel safe in Britain as violent riots sweep across the nation? YOUR VERDICT
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He added: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place.”
“Obviously it’s a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time, but that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to co-ordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.”
Police are bracing for a potentially busy day on Wednesday as they monitor reports of at least 30 possible gatherings.
Firefighters spray water over car fire in Sunderland following violent riots
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Approximately 6,000 specialist officers will be at the ready by the end of the week for the so-called “standing army” of police announced by Sir Keir on Monday to deal with disorder.
More than 400 people have now been arrested in the wake of disorder around the country, according to police sources, with the number expected to continue to rise in the coming days.
Around 100 people have been charged, with some already pleading guilty in court appearances on Tuesday.
In the exclusive poll for GB News membership readers, an overwhelming majority (73 per cent) of the 2,131 voters do not feel safe in Britain, while just 24 per cent said they did feel safe. Three per cent said they did not know.
