Young people face potentially life-long consequences of being involved in disorder, DPP warns

Stephen Parkinson said it was “deeply disturbing” that children as young as 11 have been involved in the disorder.

He said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) “will act swiftly” to prosecute cases, and a number of people have already been convicted, including the first conviction for posting online comments inciting violence in relation to the public disorder.

“The work of the criminal justice system will continue in overdrive in the coming days to build the cases against the people who have been arrested and to identify the many others who have been involved,” said Mr Parkinson.

“Justice is coming for those who have rained chaos on their local streets – to secure this, the CPS will act swiftly, working alongside our partners in the criminal justice system.

“Over the weekend we deployed dozens of extra prosecutors to provide real-time advice to the police and authorise charges where we were given the key information that we need.

“If more resources are required, we will provide them. Alongside our dedicated out-of-hours service, we have a central surge team at the ready, to be deployed wherever needed.”

He added: “One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing.

“They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.

“For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders.

“Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.

“If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.”

Mr Parkinson has directed that immediate charging decisions are made as soon as the evidential threshold for charging is met.

More widely, the CPS has established a Gold command structure to bring together police, prosecutors, and the courts service, coordinating action to make sure prosecutions can progress quickly and efficiently.

If necessary, this will include special emergency courts with dedicated prosecutors to support them.

Mr Parkinson stressed that seeking to prosecute cases swiftly “does not mean a compromise in quality”.

“The CPS and police together are building strong cases – with clear guidance from us about the evidence needed from the outset,” he said.

“In some cases, people have already pleaded guilty to violent disorder – an offence committed where three or more people are using or threatening violence which causes people to fear for safety. These have been sent to the Crown Court for sentence.

“In other cases, evidence is being assembled with the aid of CCTV, body-worn video, and facial recognition technology.

“It is important to note that people do not even have to be directly involved to commit crimes: inciting violence from a computer is also an offence.”

On Tuesday (August 6), a man who posted messages on Facebook about attacking a hotel where asylum seekers were housed has been convicted of using threatening words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred.

Jordan Parlour, 28, made the online comments advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds, and the posts were reported to police.

The hotel manager put the building into lockdown on Saturday, 3 August due to the disorder in Leeds, and at least one window was broken after stones were thrown over the weekend.

There was no evidence that Parlour attended the hotel.

“The Attorney General provided consent today to prosecute in accordance with Section 27 of the Public Order Act 1986,” the CPS said.

“This is the first conviction for posting online in relation to the public disorder.”

Parlour pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody ahead of his sentence at Leeds Crown Court on Friday (August 9).

Nick Price, director of Legal Services  at the CPS, said: “I want to be absolutely clear, anyone involved in inciting this thuggish behaviour will face severe consequences.

“Parlour advocated violence through his online posts and risked the safety of those staying at the hotel.

“The CPS will continue to act swiftly and robustly regarding these cases and ensure those responsible for such deplorable criminality are brought to justice.”

A man who hurled missiles at police officers has been convicted of violent disorder following widespread unrest in Hull.

Andrew Stewart, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at Hull Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

During the weekend’s disturbances, he was seen pushing a large, ignited waste bin towards police officers, and throwing missiles at them.

Jonathan Storer, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said: “These aren’t protests, these are acts of unacceptable violence and we have worked around the clock to ensure those involved are hauled before the courts as quickly as possible.

“We are unequivocally clear: Whatever your motivation for targeting police, inciting hatred or wreaking havoc on your community, you will face the full force of the law.

“The wheels of justice are rapidly turning and Stewart will now live with the consequences of his  actions for the rest of his life.”

A Bolton man has been jailed for two months for causing damage to two police cars following widespread disorder in Bolton in recent days.

James Nelson, 18, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to criminal damage and was jailed for two months.