Brexit: 10,000 riot police readied for no-deal chaos
Largest reserve ever amassed in UK peacetime amid fears of riots, looting and disorder
More than 10,000 specially trained riot police are being prepared for deployment in case simmering Brexit tensions bubble over into violence if the UK quits the EU without a deal.
The force - the biggest peacetime reserve ever amassed in the UK - would be deployed to quell riots, disorder and looting in the event of shortages of food, petrol and medicine, according to The Guardian.
The Daily Mirror reports that the thousands of seconded officers are “ready to hit the streets within 24 hours” of a possible no-deal withdrawal, with “1,000 available in the first hour”. Specialist teams including dog handlers and armed police officers could also be called into action if needed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Senior officers had originally prepared for Britain to leave the EU on 29 March, but “now face the prospect of a no-deal Brexit in just over a week’s time”, notes The Independent. Leaders of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPCC) say the delay has added fresh “complexity” to their operations and increases the risk of angry protests.
The authorities say there is no intelligence of any specific planned violence in the event of a no-deal Brexit, but that police must be ready for “worst-case scenarios”.
Rising tensions nationwide have seen 37 crimes directly linked to Brexit recorded across England and Wales recorded over the past two weeks. These crimes include malicious communications, verbal abuse, harassment, and offences committed at protests.
NPCC chair Martin Hewitt is warning “prominent individuals” involved in the Brexit debate, such as MPs, journalists and activists, to “avoid inciting anger” in the current “febrile atmosphere”.
“This is highly emotive ... I think there is a responsibility on those individuals that have a platform, and have a voice, to communicate in a way that is temperate and is not in any way going to inflame people’s views or cause any actions out of there,” Hewitt said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Finest Summer Flavours
By Sponsored Content Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 20, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - flags flipped, Diddy dunked, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Diddy admits to beating girlfriend after video
Speed Read Though he previously denied allegations of abuse, Combs apologized for abusing Cassie Ventura following the release of new CCTV footage
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
How the biggest election year in history might play out
The Explainer Votes in world's biggest democracies, as well as its most 'despotic' and 'stressed' countries, face threats of violence and suppression
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published