Disorder arrests in Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent

Police have made 14 arrests so far on Friday

Multiple arrests have been made during early morning raids as police investigate disturbances that happened in Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent.

So far, 13 men aged between 19 and 55 and one woman, 23, have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder as Staffordshire Police carry out warrants on a number of homes in the county.

Missiles were hurled at police in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday, and rioters descended on the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Tamworth on Sunday.

The disorder was sparked by online misinformation that the suspect in the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport on 29 July was a Muslim asylum seeker.

Staffordshire Police said it aimed to make about 30 arrests on Friday and described the continuing operation as "really successful".

The force added that it hoped the arrests would "act as a deterrent to those who are prepared to get involved in further disorder".

"I want to make it clear that we’re coming after those responsible in Staffordshire," Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said.