The UK’s most senior Police Commissioner has stood by her comments after coming under fire for claiming the far-right riots devastating the country are trying to ‘protect Britain’s sovereignty’ and ‘uphold British values’.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC Donna Jones shared a statement last night calling for ‘calm’ but urged reflection and examination of the wider causes of the disorder, including how the government tackles immigration and building on ‘British values’.
‘The government must acknowledge what is causing this civil unrest in order to prevent it,’ she wrote, saying she would put a ‘clear message’ to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary about the ‘commonality’ of grievances between rioters.
‘Arresting people, or creating violent disorder units, is treating the symptom and not the cause,’ she added.
But as criminal mobs target innocents, religious buildings and police officers in a spate of mindless violence around the country, the statement received significant backlash before it was taken down.
Today, Ms Jones reposted the statement with a clarification, reiterating her calls for ‘calm’ but adding that she was ‘confident there will be a time and place’ for ‘discussion’ on ‘a much broader issue’ ‘in due course’.
The Prime Minister this evening condemned the ‘thuggery’ of the far-right mob who stormed the hotel in Rotherham, promising those involved in the violence would ‘regret it’ as the government introduced emergency measures to bring rioters to justice.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire Donna Jones pictured in 2021
ROTHERHAM: A rioter throws blocks of concrete towards the hotel on Sunday
MIDDLESBROUGH: Riots have devastated towns and cities across the UK since July 30
MIDDLESBROUGH: The riots began after the tragic killing of three children in Stockport
MIDDLESBROUGH: Horrific scenes of violence have been widely condemned
ROTHERHAM: An injured man is arrested as riot police clash with a far-right mob today
ROTHERHAM: Violent thugs today attacked a hotel reported to be housing asylum seekers
Ms Jones, a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Hampshire PCC since 2021, shared an updated statement this afternoon after taking down the original post.
She wrote: ‘I want to be clear that the violence that has erupted across the UK this week has been criminal, unlawful and senseless.
‘I stand by my statement issued yesterday where I called for calm, and for the country to work together stop this mindless, criminal behaviour.
‘I fully support the police’s response to stem the growth of these riots and those acting outside of the law should expect to feel the full force of it.
‘The violence we have seen has endangered our communities and infected lawful protest on a much broader issue.
‘As a country this issue is something we should seek to understand without letting it divide us.
‘I am confident there will be a time and place for that discussion in due course.’
The initial post received wide backlash, posted on Saturday after a day of vile rioting across the country.
In the original statement she lamented that police officers were being attacks, and buildings were being targeted because of those living in them or worshipping at them.
With more so-called ‘protests’ planned across the country – more indeed erupting today, with horrific scenes from Rotherham showing far-right rioters storming into a hotel housing asylum seekers – she called for reflection on their causes.
‘The announcement of the Prime Minister’s new Violent Crime Units have lead to an accusation of two tier policing, which has enflamed protestors who state they are battling to protect Britain’s sovereignty, identity and stop illegal immigration’ she wrote.
‘Burning towns and cities and attacking the police is not the answer, so how do we stop it?’
‘Whilst the devastating attacks in Southport on Monday were a catalyst, the commonality amongst the protest groups appears to be focused on three key areas: the desire to protect Britain’s sovereignty; the need to uphold British values and in order to do this, stop illegal immigration,’ she added.
‘The growth of feeling across the country has mirrored (to a lesser extent) the rebellion to illegal immigration that has played out across France over the last 12 months.
‘The government must acknowledge what is causing this civil unrest in order to prevent it. Arresting people, or creating violent disorder units, is treating the symptom and not the cause.
‘The questions these people want answering; what is the government’s solution to mass uncontrolled immigration? How are the new Labour government going to uphold and build on British values? This is the biggest challenge facing Sir Kier Starmer’s government, and its bitten quickly.’
The statement received wide condemnation across the political spectrum online.
Charlie Murphy, who ran as the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Portsmouth South, which experienced clashes on Saturday, wrote on Twitter/X: ‘This is particularly astounding from Donna Jones, who once led Portsmouth.
‘Our city sacrificed a great deal to defeat fascism, and it should not be represented by someone who leaves the door open to fascists today.’
Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, wrote: ‘I’m deeply concerned to learn Hampshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner believes the rioters vandalising our streets and attacking mosques are motivated by ‘the need to uphold British values.’
‘These extreme views make her totally unsuitable to hold this position of responsibility.’
Liz Jarvis, MP for Eastleigh, wrote: ‘Far from appealing for calm, the statement by Hampshire PCC Donna Jones attempting to justify the criminality we have seen across the UK this week is divisive, inflammatory and grossly irresponsible. Her position is clearly untenable.’
Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, wrote: ‘
I won’t be sharing the inflammatory statement by Donna Jones. This statement is released in Ms Jones’ capacity as ‘the UK’s most senior police and crime commissioner’.
‘I have written to Dorset’s Commissioner to raise concerns and ask him to distance himself from the statement.’
Labour Councillor Matt Dent wrote: ‘A police and crime commissioner releasing a statement like this to justify criminal behaviour should be grounds for immediate resignation.
‘Donna Jones’ position is clearly untenable.’
ROTHERHAM: Donna Jones said the riots showed need to address the underlying causes
ROTHERHAM: Police stand guard outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorks
ROTHERHAM: A man looks out of The Holiday Inn hotel as counter-demonstrators gather
ROTHERHAM: Police have been trying to fend off agitators outside the hotel today
MIDDLESBROUGH: A police officer helps a woman who has fallen over during the clashes
ROTHERHAM: Police officers detain a man during an anti-immigration clash
ROTHERHAM: Groups opposing the far-right riots massed outside the hotel
Violent riots have swept across several UK cities throughout the week and this weekend, following the deaths of three young girls in Southport.
Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Lancashire, born in Cardiff, was identified as the suspect in the case, charged with murdering three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.
But misinformation online about the identity of the suspect before he was named is believed to have prompted far-right groups to amass in cities and towns nationwide.
Claims falsely circulated social media that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Sammy Woodhouse, a high-profile victim of the Rotherham child grooming gang scandal, said of the suspect in a broadcast: ‘[People] feel like they are not being told any information.
‘They know the guy’s not a British guy. They know he’s of a different ethnicity. There’s talk of him being a Muslim as well.’
The clip was shared by Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, after police had clarified that the claims were false, The Times reports.
Robinson, 41, had a UK arrest warrant issued against him last Monday after he skipped a court appearance.
MailOnline revealed exclusively that he has been staying at a five-star hotel in Cyprus as riots sweep England.
Violence continued through Sunday as police and groups opposing the rioters mobilised to stamp out the spiralling violence.
About 300 people gathered in front of a mosque in Waterloo Road in Middlesbrough to guard it while police blocked off nearby streets.
One resident told the PA news agency: ‘We’re going to be paying for this, and for what?
‘This has got nothing to do with three little girls that have lost their lives. They’ve used it to cause utter mayhem on our streets.’
A person was seen being stretchered into an ambulance after an incident at the Swatters Carr pub.
Last night, thugs in Merseyside set fire to a library, which also functioned as a food bank, intended to help support deprived people in the community.
As firefighters tried to put on the flames that engulfed Spellow Lane Library Hub rioters threw a missile at the engine, before breaking the rear window of a nearby cab.
A Citizens Advice bureau in Sunderland was also set alight on Saturday amid the senseless attacks on community pillars.
ITV journalist Jonny Blair wrote on Twitter/X: ‘Its manager this morning told me they’re devastated and now trying to figure out how to help the people they were supposed to see.’
In Hull, a Shoezone was pictured with smashed out windows with a fire raging inside. Those involved were seen carelessly trading Crocs on the side of the road while chaos ensued.
Meanwhile, in Belfast stores were shamelessly set on fire and destroyed – with photos from outside one café showing yobs smashing their benches on the ground.
LIVERPOOL: Rioters torched the city’s new Spellow Hub library. which opened last year
LIVERPOOL: The destroyed interior of the Spellow Hub community library
Violence last night broke out in Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast – with many police forces being pushed to breaking point.
Protesters tried to kick down police officer’s riot gear, while other demonstrators threw objects at their shields.
Looters took advantage of the chaos, stealing phones, shoes and wine from the shelves of every-day stores, smashing their windows with bricks and stones.
In Liverpool, shameless yobs squealed ‘get the phones! Get the phones!’ as a group surrounded and battered their way into a phone repair and vape shop in the city centre.
Kicking the shutters with the feet and wrenching them up in a wild frenzy, the mob battered at the glass with what appeared to be a bollard before leaving the road outside strewn with packaging after they emptied the shelves.
