People considering disorder urged to 'think again'

Rioters caused damage and set fire to the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth

People considering getting involved in public disorder have been warned to "think again" as the one-year anniversary of the Staffordshire riots approaches.

The county's police, fire and crime commissioner Ben Adams made the plea following recent demonstrations outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex.

The violent disorder in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on 3 August 2024 saw anti-migrant protesters clash with counter-demonstrators, while the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth was targeted by rioters a day later.

The unrest was sparked by misinformation spread about the identity of the man who stabbed three young girls to death in Southport.

The Conservative commissioner told Staffordshire County Council's police, fire and crime panel: "If anybody thinks that is the way to make a point and stepping into violence is acceptable then please think again because it will be dealt with."

He said police officers tied up in dealing with disorder meant they could not be "in our neighbourhoods, dealing with our roads or looking after our children".

"There are cost implications as well as overtime and wellbeing," he told Monday's meeting. "I do hope for everybody's sake that people make their concerns known in a peaceful manner."

Tamworth Borough Council leader Carol Dean said there was a difference "between free speech and incitement"

Tamworth Borough Council's Labour leader Carol Dean said there was a difference "between free speech and incitement".

"It is about people understanding what is crime - the quick reaction last year did centre people's thoughts on the fact they shouldn't be where they were and they shouldn't have been throwing those petrol bombs and sticks," she added.

She said, as well as the concerns over immigration, there were other issues "in the background" which contributed to people's strength of feeling, including the "low-wage economy".

Dean added: "It does feel at the moment like everything's a tinder box and we all need to be very aware of it."

Adams said he shared concerns about the disorder and described the violence in Tamworth as "some of the worst in the country".

There had been "something in the order of" 100 charges brought since the disorder, he said, with about 60 people sentenced.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.