Rogues’ gallery of people being hunted by cops over riots is released
COPS have released a rogues’ gallery of people they are hunting for in connection to the recent outbreak of rioting.
Hampshire Police issued the images of seven people following disruption outside the Potter International Hotel in Aldershot on Wednesday evening.
It comes after the Greater Manchester Police issued images of 11 people they would like to talk to after disorder broke out in the Newton Heath area of the city on Wednesday.
The Hampshire Constabulary says one officer suffered a minor injury after a small group of the 200 people who had gathered for a protest began criminal activity at around 6.45pm.
They are said to have engaged in criminal damage, intimidation and hurled racial abuse.
Officers are “keen to identify” those in the images issued.
Hampshire Police said in a statement: “Do you know the people pictured? Do you have any information that could assist our investigation?”
Originally eight images of people were released but one individual has since been identified.
Police are reviewing evidence from their officers’ body-worn cameras, footage captured by the National Police Air Service and local CCTV cameras.
Appealing for witnesses, a spokesman said: “Investigations are under way today to take action against those who sparked disruption in Aldershot.
“A protest took place outside the Potters International Hotel and as with previous protests at this site, the majority of attendees gathered in a peaceful manner.
“Unfortunately, at around 6.45pm, a minority of the 200 people present got involved in criminal activity, throwing objects and subjecting people to racial abuse.
“Our officers were swiftly on scene and were able to disperse the group quickly.
“Sadly, one of our officers suffered a minor injury as a result of the disruption.
“We have immediately instigated a thorough investigation to identify those responsible, which includes reviewing evidence from our officers’ body-worn cameras, footage captured by our colleagues at National Police Air Service and CCTV cameras in the local area.
“This is taking place alongside our inquiries with witnesses at the scene and engagement within the local community.”
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said: “The swift and decisive actions of our officers last night saw this incident brought under control, preventing further harm to the community in Aldershot.
“Our role is to protect people’s lawful right to protest, while also preventing serious disorder and disruption to the local community and this is what happened last night.
“It is totally unacceptable to turn that lawful right into criminal acts including incidents of criminal damage, racial abuse and intimidation. This will not be tolerated in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
“Our specialist teams are working hard to identify anyone who has committed a criminal offence and we will take swift and robust action against those people.
“As ever, we continue to speak to our communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to ensure we have our teams where they need to be and we are constantly reviewing our patrol plans to reassure residents.
“Everyone has the right to free speech and peaceful protest. However, officers will take a robust stance against those whose behaviour falls below the standard we expect and who choose to act outside of the law.”
Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot, said the situation had been “exacerbated” by people from outside the community.
In a statement posted on X, previously Twitter, she wrote: “I have been liaising with Hampshire Police this evening regarding a significant incident at Potter’s International Hotel in Aldershot, where a peaceful protest descended into intimidating behaviour.
“I have visited the scene myself this evening and have been in close touch with the Chief Inspector.
“This incident was exacerbated by people from outside our community who came here determined to cause unrest.
“I would like to pay tribute to the brave police officers who worked hard to restore order.
“There is no justification for disorderly behaviour and these scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough.
“We all support our shared right to peacefully protest, but we will not stand for people coming to our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101, quoting 44240326041.
It comes as Manchester is the most recent place to see trouble flare up after rocks were hurled at police in the Newton Heath area of the city.
Demonstrators had gathered outside a Holiday Inn before chaos broke out as people clashed with police.
A man was dragged off a bus and assaulted, while rocks and bottles were hurled at officers and eggs smashed in the road, reports say.
Police say two men were arrested over the clashes.
Around 40 people had gathered outside the budget hotel which is said to be used for asylum seekers at around 6pm.
Chants were heard of “we want our country back” and “shame on you” yelled.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 6pm this evening our officers were called to reports of a demonstration on Oldham Road in Newton Heath. Local patrols supported by specialised units, were deployed and dispersed the group after objects were thrown, towards the police and public.
“Due to the early intervention from our officers this criminal behaviour thankfully didn’t cause any serious injury or damage.
“Two men aged 18 and 25 were later arrested for violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker and remain in custody at this time for questioning.
“Enquiries into a further related report of an assault of a bus driver is ongoing at this stage. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 1369 of 31/07/2024.”
A number of incidents of unrest around the country have broken out, including Hartlepool and London, in the wake of the murder of three young girls in a horrifying knife attack in Southport on Monday.
The teenager charged with their murder has been named as Cardiff-born Axel Rudakubana.
However, police have not linked the disturbance in Aldershot to the Southport attack.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the thugs who rioted in the wake of the Southport stabbings will face a football-hooligan style crackdown.
Anyone planning further violent protests in the wake of the Southport stabbings has been told that the authorities “will be watching you” to prevent the “summer madness” from spreading.
Home Office minister Lord Hanson told would-be rioters to “be prepared to face the full force of the law on this criminal activity”, as the prospect of more than a dozen more protests in the coming days looms.
Lord Hanson said forces have the powers under intelligence-led policing to track “people who may be travelling to cause trouble and to cause conspiracy” and to use facial recognition technology and other evidence to bring prosecutions.
Asked how concerned the Government is about fresh unrest this weekend, Lord Hanson told LBC Radio: “There is that potential.
“But I always say to anybody who’s organising this, we will be watching you. If you are organising this now, we will be watching you.
“We have powers under existing legislation to stop you organising this now and to take action accordingly, and if you do take action and are not part of any organised group, be prepared to face the full force of the law on this criminal activity.”
Asked whether those involved are from the far right, he said: “Some individuals will have far-right opinions, in my view, some might be caught up in the summer madness. Some might be people who’ve got genuine concerns.”
He urged them to protest peacefully and raise issues with their MP.
“What they can’t do is throw rocks at police officers, break windows in mosques and attack people in the streets and undertake street robbery as happened in some of the shops in the in Southport. That is simply not acceptable.”