We're about to return to Leeds Crown Court, where two more men are due to be sentenced on camera following recent disorder.

Up first is Jordan Parlour, 28, of Seacroft, Leeds, who will be sentenced over publishing written material intended to stir racial hatred.

After that Jordan Plain, 30, of Broadway Horsforth, Leeds, will be sentenced for racially aggravated intentional harassment.

You'll be able to following the sentencing from court via our stream at the top of the page, just click the watch live button.

Let's bring you more now from the CPS following suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones being charged with violent disorder.

Here's the statement from Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North:

“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder.

“Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protestors.

“He has been arrested and charged within 48 hours, and will now appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, 9 August 2024."

Narwal adds that criminal proceedings are active and that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice them.

Suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones has been charged with encouraging violent disorder after appearing at a London counter-protest, the CPS has confirmed.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

Image source, PA Media

The new English football league season kicks off tonight, and Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC Lead for Football Policing, says there is no suggestion of any fixtures being postponed this weekend.

“Should there be any issues, be they purely football related or linked to the violent incidents of earlier in the week, then forces are well prepared with significantly more public order officers available than normal,” Robert says.

He adds: “As we have seen, whatever the alleged motivation, any acts of criminality will be dealt with swiftly and robustly with offenders facing the full weight of the courts, which if football related will include banning orders. It is important we allow the overwhelming majority of fans to enjoy the start of the new season in safety.”

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening today:

• Two men have been jailed at Leeds Crown Court for affray, they had attended an anti-racism demonstration while an anti-immigration protest was happening at the same time
• Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds, was jailed for 20 months for affray while Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds was jailed for 18 months for the same offence. Ghafoor was also jailed for an additional 12 months for breaching a suspended sentence
• This afternoon, Jordan Parlour, 28, will be sentenced over publishing written material intended to stir racial hatred, and Jordan Plain, 30, will be sentenced for racially aggravated intentional harassment
• Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds says the government is going into the weekend in a “state of high readiness”, adding that the criminal justice system is dealing with offenders quickly

• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says social networks are not a “not a law-free zone” and that the government will need to "look more broadly at social media"
• Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is calling on social media companies X, TikTok, and Meta to outline “immediate and decisive” action they’re taking to combat the spread of misinformation

Stay with us throughout the afternoon as we continue to bring you live updates.

What is the Online Safety Act - and is it 'fit for purpose'?published at 13:30 British Summer Time 9 August 2024

13:30 BST 9 August 2024

Liv McMahon
Technology reporter

As we pause before hearing more of today's sentences, let's return to the Online Safety Act (OSA) - which has been put back into the spotlight following false and inflammatory content circulating online during the riots.

The OSA aims to make those social media companies more accountable for any harmful material on their sites.

As mentioned in our earlier posts, it became law this year, but isn’t expected to come into force until 2025.

Once it does, firms that fail to meet its requirements can be hit with fines of up to £18m or 10% of their annual global turnover.

The government and communications regulator Ofcom have both urged social media companies not to wait until then to act.

Meanwhile, others are questioning whether even those enhanced powers will be enough.

The OSA’s journey into law was marked by many delays - and debates over whether it was overzealous or too weak in achieving its aims.

Some are now suggesting there were too many compromises were made along the way – most notably London Mayor Sadiq Khan who has said the OSA is “not fit for purpose”.

Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds is jailed for 18 months for affray.

He will also serve a consecutive period of 12 months for breach of a previous suspended sentence. It means the total sentence will be two-and-a-half years.

Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds, is jailed for 20 months for affray.

Judge Guy Kearl KC is outlining the demonstrations in Leeds - the two men attended an anti-racism demonstration while there was also an anti-immigration demonstration.

He explains to the court how Ali and Ghafoor were captured on CCTV walking down a road after the protest and encountered four white men from the anti-immigration protest.

Judge Kearl says it's "clear" something was said between the two groups, adding that Ghafoor has said it was "racial abuse".

The judge continues, saying there was a breakout of punches and kicks for about 30 seconds towards the other group and a "missile" was thrown towards them and a nearby bar.

Judge Kearl continues to set out the details behind the offending.

"The violence used by you and others was unlawful", he tells Ali and Ghafoor.

He continues that not only did they violently attack others in the street but the offending was witnessed by others in a nearby bar, in cars and on the pavement, who would have been "shocked", "fearful" and "distressed".

Judge Guy Kearl KC starts his remarks by outlining the affray charges against Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds.

He adds these happened in the context of civil unrest and disorder which was generated from the stabbings in Southport of three little girls which lead to groups clashing since then.

He says in a democracy such as the UK, people are entitled to protest peacefully and entitled to share their opinions freely, but each of those freedoms have limits and boundaries.

Judge Kearl continues by saying that whether speaking directly or indirectly, meaning online, certain comments were still illegal and the law was there to protect everyone, regardless of race or religion.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Four men are to be sentenced on camera at Leeds Crown Court for their roles in recent unrest.

• Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds, will be sentenced for affray
• Jordan Parlour, 28, of Seacroft, Leeds, will be sentenced after being convicted of publishing written material intended to stir racial hatred
• And Jordan Plain, 30, of Broadway Horsforth, Leeds, will be sentenced for racially aggravated intentional harassment

Judge Guy Kearl KC has just started delivering his remarks. We'll be bringing you live updates and you can follow the sentencing at the top of the page by clicking the watch live button.

What are the consequences for what’s posted on social media?published at 12:32 British Summer Time 9 August 2024

12:32 BST 9 August 2024

Marianna Spring
Disinformation and social media correspondent

There are laws that govern not just the real world but the social media space - which explains why we’ve already seen at least five people charged with sharing or inciting hate online over the past week.

A couple of those are expected to be sentenced today.

I’ve been tracking down some of the people behind false posts about the Southport attacker’s identities that have helped to fuel riots offline this past week.

My investigation led to people based all around the world connected to a news site accused of fuelling the online frenzy - not just those based here in the UK.

That can pose a problem for British authorities looking to hold people accountable for their posts.

And there are other hurdles too - especially when it comes to disinformation. It’s currently not legislated for in the Online Safety Act - due to come into force in 2025 - because of concerns over freedom of expression.

It’s a murky area working out how to deal with a person sharing something that’s not true, whether intentionally or not - and when that crosses the line.

Instead, it’s laws that cover malicious communications, racist hate and public disorder being used here.

This explains - in part - London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s comments that online safety rules are currently “not fit for purpose” and urging the government to revisit them.

Right now, much of the power lies with the social media companies - and it's X and its owner Elon Musk who’ve been especially in the spotlight this past week.

Image source, Reuters

First Minister John Swinney is calling on social media companies X, TikTok, and Meta to outline "immediate and decisive" action they're taking to combat the spread of misinformation on their platforms.

In a letter, external to the three organisations, he says social media platforms have a "duty to take action" online to protect communities from violent disorder and ensure that people aren't subjected to hate and threatening behaviour.

He goes on to say Police Scotland has raised concerns to him about the amount of time it takes for "problematic posts to be removed when these are identified by law enforcement agencies".

"This increases the risk of spread of malicious content," he adds.

"Everyone has a role in stopping the spread of misinformation. You and your platform have a specific responsibility to do so."

A bit more from the prime minister now who says social media is "not a law free zone”.

Asked about Sadiq Khan's remarks that the Online Safety Act is not fit for purpose, Starmer responded by highlighting how there were sentences being handed down for online behaviour today.

"That's a reminder to everyone that whether you're directly involved or whether you're remotely involved, you're culpable, and you will be put before the courts if you've broken the law,” he says, adding he agrees the government will need to "look more broadly at social media" later on, but that right now the focus needs to be on dealing with the disorder.

Starmer also reiterates his message this morning that police should be kept on "high alert" and that the swift sentencing of rioters "is a very important message to anyone who's thinking of getting involved in the coming days".

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Sir Keir Starmer says the start of the football season this weekend is "added into the mix" of the challenges the police and the government are facing.

The prime minister made the comments while visiting the Met's Lambeth command and control base this morning, where he also met with chief Sir Mark Rowley and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine.

Asked if the football season would make it easier or harder to manage rioting, the prime minister says: "I think there were a lot of things in the mix this weekend but of course, whatever the challenge, we have to rise to it."

He acknowledged that though security at football matches was among the factors officials were considering ahead of the weekend, he emphasised that the focus "has to be absolutely solely on the safety and security of our communities".

Thousands of pounds have been raised to help communities get back on their feet after they were damaged following the violent unrest.

In Middlesbrough, carer Brendan Nwabichie said he cried after coming home from a 12-hour shift and finding the remnants of his overturned car outside his flat.

His employer, Clare's Care UK, has since raised more than £60,000, which it says will go towards a new car for him and local churches and mosques involved in the clean-up after the unrest.

More than £220,000 has been raised so far for the Spellow Lane Library Hub in Walton, Liverpool, after the premises was set fire to on Saturday evening.

Alex McCormick has said the response is "such a testament to how the community comes together".

In Hartlepool, Andrew Cooper has raised over £12,000 to "show appreciation" for a local mosque after hearing protesters were heading towards it on 31 July. Police diverted protesters away from the Nasir Mosque.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Cooper said the money would be split across multiple charities and used to repair shop fronts for businesses that were damaged in the disorder.

New footage gives an insight into the perspective of police officers confronted by rioters in Liverpool at the weekend.

Released by the Crown Prosecution Service, it also shows a library being set on fire during the unrest.

More people will be appearing in court today who were allegedly involved in the violent unrest that unfolded in Liverpool recently - but their charges aren't linked to setting the library on fire.

Stick with us as we'll be bringing you all the updates on those sentencings - and others - a bit later on.

More than a quarter of people charged by police so far with offences linked to the recent violent unrest are under the age of 21, according to the PA news agency.

Let's break down some of the other figures for you:

• At least 140 people have been charged following the violent disorder, with more than a dozen already sentenced
• Of 116 cases analysed by BBC News, violent disorder was the most common charge, with 69 counts
• There were 14 counts of assaulting an emergency worker and 12 of possession of a weapon
• Six alleged offences were specifically listed as racially aggravated
• At least five people were charged with offences involving social media or other online activity
• Of the 116 people charged 110 were men

The data the BBC analysed refers to 19 separate cities or towns. Online offences were recorded separately.

Lesley-Anne McKeown
Reporting from Belfast

Police in Northern Ireland say they dealt with “a number” of race related hate crimes and disorder on Thursday.

They say a car was set on fire and windows were smashed at two properties in south Belfast.

Bins were also set on fire and a group of masked men threw bricks and masonry at officers in east Belfast for a second night.

There were no reports of any injuries.

So far 22 people have been arrested - 15 of them charged in connection with the trouble that has flared over the past week.

Later on Friday, four men - aged 33, 25, 18 and 25 - are due in court and are charged with offences linked to disturbances in parts of Belfast on Wednesday.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: "Those who are intent on causing disorder or committing offences, need to think of the consequences of their actions.”