Watchdog admonishes police for failing to realise how serious the leadup to the far-right summer riots were
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Police failed to realise the significance of a series of events leading up to the summer riots and there were gaps in intelligence linked to social media and the dark web, a watchdog has claimed. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services has published its report into how police forces dealt with disorder that broke out after the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, Merseyside.
![[It found that a number of events in 2023 and 2024 were indicators of potential future disorder, but this had not been reflected in police intelligence assessments]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/01/93257541-14203847-image-a-36_1734484668011.jpg)
It found that a number of events in 2023 and 2024 were indicators of potential future disorder, but this had not been reflected in police intelligence assessments. The report said these incidents ‘involved extreme nationalist sentiment, aggravated activism or serious disorder’.
![[False information about the alleged perpetrator of the Southport attack received more than 27million impressions on Twitter as violence erupted in 27 towns. Pictured protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/01/92309113-14203847-False_information_about_the_alleged_perpetrator_of_the_Southport-a-20_1734484410307.jpg)
Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said no one understood the ‘cause and effect’ of disinformation. He added: ‘So the police failed adequately to denounce it or mitigate against it in real time to deter or curtail the disorder.’. It comes after some middle class people with well-paid jobs 'lost everything' when they got drawn into taking part in the summer riots, a Labour policing chief said.
![[Misinformation which helped fuel the summer's riots was 'turbo-charged' by foreign bots, Britain's head of counter-terror policing has said. Pictured: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out in Southport]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/01/92309117-14203847-Misinformation_which_helped_fuel_the_summer_s_riots_was_turbo_ch-a-21_1734484420316.jpg)
Matt Storey, the commissioner for Cleveland, said in November they had 'really settled lifestyles' which had now evaporated. Police failed to realise the significance of a series of events leading up to the summer riots and there were gaps in intelligence linked to social media and the dark web, a watchdog has claimed.
![[Matt Storey, the commissioner for Cleveland, has claimed that some middle class people with well-paid jobs 'lost everything' when they got drawn into taking part in the summer riots]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/01/92319555-14203847-Matt_Storey_the_commissioner_for_Cleveland_has_claimed_that_some-a-22_1734484471377.jpg)
