Starmer dismisses Farage’s accusations of two-tier policing as insignificant
Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has alleged the existence of a ‘two-tier policing’ system in Britain, citing disparities in how disturbances in Leeds last month were handled.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refuted the assertions made by Reform Party leader Nigel Farage regarding the presence of a two-tier policing system in Britain.
Following social workers’ removal of a child from a Roma family in the Harehills district of Leeds last month amid welfare concerns, rioters overturned a police car and set vehicles on fire.
In a statement, Farage expressed concern about the widespread impression of two-tier policing and urged for the Parliament to be reconvened.
However, Starmer, speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting addressing the unrest and police response, denied the presence of two-tier policing, emphasizing the importance of policing without bias or favoritism.
Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel also dismissed Farage’s claims, highlighting the distinction between legitimate protests and violent acts of vandalism and racism.
Patel Backs Starmer on Two-Tier Policing
Starmer hinted at the potential establishment of a national riot police force akin to France’s Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité to address such incidents effectively.
He also warned of strict consequences for those inciting violence through social media and criticized platforms failing to address harmful content promptly.
Efforts are underway to hold individuals accountable for promoting violence and hate through online platforms, with Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasizing the need for stricter regulation of harmful content.
Starmer’s spokesman condemned the remarks made by Elon Musk predicting civil war in the UK, calling for social media platforms to take action against such incendiary comments swiftly.
Further steps will be taken to enforce the Online Safety Act to counter misinformation and incitement to violence on social media platforms effectively.
The act introduces criminal offenses for threatening communications and spreading false information intending to cause harm, aiming to curb the dissemination of harmful content online.
The challenges surrounding prosecuting individuals for sharing false information underscore the complexities of enforcing these regulations.
PA Media contributed to this report.
