UK riots LIVE as police told to remain on 'high alert' and jail terms handed out

Police forces have been told to remain on 'high alert' amid recent violent scenes despite many planned protests failing to materialise. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said swift justice, including sentencing, has been a deterrent to more violent disorder.

At least a dozen people were jailed on Thursday for their part in the riots of the past 10 days, with more expected to be sent to prison on Friday, including some on live television.

On Thursday night, Sir Keir addressed his third emergency Cobra meeting since the first riot in Southport on July 30. Sir Keir reportedly told the meeting that police need to remain on “high alert”.

READ MORE: Family of Southport stab victim condemn rioters' attacks on police who 'stood by our daughter's side'

He is understood to have said there was no doubt that levels of policing in the right places and swift justice over the past week, including sentencing, have acted as a deterrent to disorder.

Earlier in the day he told reporters that Wednesday night’s events, when it was thought that around 100 protests across the UK had been planned, turned out “much better than was expected”. He said “anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law”.

His comments came as the final child injured in the Southport stabbings, which sparked the riots, was discharged from hospital. She will continue her recovery at home, Merseyside Police said.

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Police in Hampshire have charged 40-year-old Ryan Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, with assault by beating of an emergency worker following a protest in Southampton on Wednesday. He will appear at Southampton Magistrates’