Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a new initiative to curb criminal and violent disorders, launching the National Violent Disorder Programme. The programme aims to swiftly address violence and unrest on UK streets by leveraging advanced policing capabilities, including intelligence sharing and potential expansion of facial recognition technology.
During a meeting with police chiefs at Downing Street, Starmer expressed firm support for law enforcement across the country, emphasising the government’s commitment to collaborate with police forces to eradicate recent episodes of violent disorder. Utilising local insights and data, the programme will identify hotspots of criminal activity to enable rapid intervention.
The initiative comes in response to recent violent incidents, including the tragic events in Southport, which highlighted both the heroism of emergency services and the aggressive actions of a minority. The programme will facilitate the deployment of surge teams to areas with intelligence indicating organised violence.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the violence in Southport, stressing the need for communities to feel safe and for criminals to face the full force of the law. National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Gavin Stephens and College of Policing CEO Sir Andy Marsh echoed these sentiments, supporting the programme’s focus on enhancing policing capabilities and maintaining public order.
