ew inquiry: Home Affairs Committee to examine policing of summer 2024 disorder

The Home Affairs Committee has launched a new inquiry into the policing of incidents of violent disorder in the UK during the summer of 2024. 

In July and August this year, significant disorder took place in towns and cities following the violent events in Southport. Violent protests took place in urban centres, and outside accommodation for asylum seekers, necessitating a significant police response. An estimated 40,000 additional officer shifts were required by public order officers in a ten-day period and over 1,500 arrests were made in response to the disorder. 

Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee Dame Karen Bradley said: 

“Disorder like we witnessed in the summer poses a significant challenge to policing. We want to understand the situations they faced, as well as the resourcing, policy and safety considerations behind their response. 

“Front line officers play a vital role in protecting communities in these situations, putting themselves in harm's way and being required to make tough decisions to maintain order. It is vital that lessons are learnt to ensure they are in the best position to meet similar challenges in the future.” 

Terms of reference 

Written submissions are invited in response to the following questions. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 10 December. Find out how to submit evidence here. 

Written evidence must address the terms of reference as set out above, but please note that submissions do not have to address every point. 

·       What was the nature and extent of disorder in July and August 2024, including:  

·                What proportion of events following the Southport attack constituted peaceful protest compared to violent disorder?  

·                To what extent did violent disorder in July and August 2024 arise from, or occur during, otherwise peaceful protests?  

·       How did police forces respond to disorder in July and August 2024, including:  

·                What strategies did police forces employ to respond, and on what basis?  

·                How did these strategies compare to those used in other recent cases of large-scale disorder?  

·                How prepared were police forces to respond to the riots and disorder?  

·                To what extent did police forces apply lessons from policing previous large-scale, violent and/or disruptive protests?  

·                How effectively were police forces able to share intelligence during and after the disorder, including through digital platforms?  

·       How significant a resource burden did policing the disorder place on forces?  

·       How effective was collaboration and the provision of mutual aid between forces in meeting this burden?  

·       What impact did abstractions (the temporary redeployment of police officers from their neighbourhood or role to respond to the disorder) have on wider policing resources such as community policing?  

·       What challenges, if any, did the political focus on the disorder place on policing in general, and the decisions of individual officers?