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Kent Police reassure public after reports of protests planned after Southport stabbings

By: Amy Nickalls anickalls@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:23, 06 August 2024

Updated: 15:35, 06 August 2024

Police are reassuring the public that officers are “well prepared” to respond to any potential protests in Kent.

Social media activity in recent days has suggested far-right groups plan to gather at three sites tomorrow night.

KentOnline has seen details of the exact locations but has chosen not to publish them.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “We are aware of possible protest dates and locations being promoted on social media and are well prepared to respond swiftly and robustly to any incidents of disorder that may arise.

“The force is continuing to monitor all available information and has sufficient resources in place to respond while continuing with the daily business of keeping people safe and preventing and detecting crime.

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“Officers are also engaging with communities to provide ongoing reassurance.”

This comes as dozens of people appear in court after violence erupted in various cities across the country over the past week.

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Violent scenes in Sunderland on Friday resulted in four officers being injured. Picture:Scott Heppell/PA

The trouble started in Southport following the fatal stabbings of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club last Tuesday.

Nearby resident Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, has been charged over the attacks and remanded in custody.

But false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

Trouble further escalated at the weekend with disorder in places, including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Rotherham.

On Monday night, riot police battled to contain rock-throwing yobs in Plymouth.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was focused on ensuring police are able to carry out their duties (PA Video)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the gangs of thugs - stating they will feel the full force of the law.

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Meanwhile, scores of police officers from across the country have been injured in the clashes.

Gurvinder Sandher, from Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council, says he has received several phone calls from worried people and businesses.

He said: “There is this genuine fear something could happen here in Kent. It could happen here in north Kent particularly where there’s a very large, obviously diverse population. But really, we can’t let these people win.

“You know, we need to be going out about our day-to-day business but on the proviso everyone just needs to be a little bit careful at the moment.

Gurvinder Sandher has said it’s been very upsetting to see what’s happened across the country this weekend. Picture: Cohesion Plus

“It’s been really upsetting seeing what’s been going on around the country and to be honest, I want my country back as well.

“The country where we can stand shoulder to shoulder where all faiths and all communities are respected.

“We can’t have this situation where people, particularly from minority communities, are scared of going out and they’re being randomly attacked.

“When I was growing up here in Gravesend in the 1970s and 1980s, we lived through that fear.

“That isn't the country that we are today in 2024. And we are stronger when we all come together.”

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