On Wednesday, seven men were charged after disorder broke out in Hartlepool. All of the men were charged with violent disorder and one was charged with assaulting an emergency worker. Another was charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public space. The men, aged between 28 and 54, were remanded in custody and will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court later, according to Cleveland Police.
The police believe that the disorder was linked to protests over the fatal knife attack on three children in Southport on Monday. Eleven people were arrested as police officers were attacked with missiles, glass bottles, and eggs in Hartlepool’s Murray Street area on Wednesday. An 11-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of arson after a police car was set alight in Hartlepool.
Jonathan Brash, Hartlepool’s MP, described the night’s events as “appalling” and called for people to remain calm. He told BBC Radio Tees that there was “no excuse” for what had happened. In addition, Cleveland Police is investigating an assault after video footage posted on social media appeared to show a “young boy of black or ethnic origin” being punched in the face during the unrest.
Multiple areas of the country have experienced disorder since the Southport attack. More than 100 people were arrested in central London on Wednesday as officers clashed with protesters during a demonstration on Whitehall. There was also unrest in Southport on Tuesday, which came hours after a peaceful vigil was attended by thousands to remember the girls who died. Eight people are being sought by police after objects were hurled outside a hotel housing migrants during a protest in Aldershot.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised action would be taken following the “violent disorder” at a meeting with police chiefs at Downing Street. Speaking in a televised speech afterwards, he laid out plans for forces across the country to increase their co-operation to tackle such incidents
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