Ministers are ready to respond if fresh riots erupt this summer as tensions simmer over migrant hotels in communities across the UK.
The business secretary has said government agencies, the police and emergency services are prepared for potential disorder after violent demonstrations outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex.
But a former top prosecutor called for “much, much more” to be done, saying local community ‘Cobra’ meetings should be “happening now” in potential hotspots and policing resources should be put in place to prevent further outbreaks.
Local Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson has warned the riots in Essex are a “crisis that has reached boiling point”.
Demonstrations threatened to spread to London this week after false rumours claimed migrants were being moved from the Bell Hotel in Epping to the Britannia Hotel in London.
Protesters gathered at the site, which the Home Office has earmarked for housing migrants in future, despite it currently sitting empty.
A ring of steel has now been set up outside the Canary Wharf hotel in response to days of protests outside.
The protective fencing has been put in place following fears the protests, which have been limited so far, could escalate into similar scenes that have been seen in Epping.
And deputy prime minister Angela Rayner this week issued a stark warning to her fellow cabinet ministers, warning them the UK faces a repeat of last year’s summer riots unless “the government shows it can address people’s concerns”.
Asked if the UK was prepared to handle another summer of disorder, Jonathan Reynolds said: “All the government, all the key agencies, the police, they prepare for all situations.
“So I wouldn’t want you to be talking this up or speculating in a way which is unhelpful. Of course, the state prepares for all situations.
“But I think what we’ve got to talk about is: why are people unhappy with, say, the asylum system? Are they reasonable? Are they upset for legitimate reasons? Yes, we share those as a government. That is why we are sorting it out.
“And I understand the frustrations people have, but ultimately, you solve those frustrations and solve the problem by fixing and getting a grip of the core issue, which is what we’re doing.”
He said the government was getting a grip on the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with the number across the country having come down from around 400 hotels to “just over 200”.
Former top prosecutor Nazir Afzal said “much, much more” needed to be done.
He said politicians and political parties had to “make it clear that hate speech, discrimination, and incitement to violence will not be tolerated”.
He called for local community ‘Cobra’ meetings to be “happening now” and said the police and community leaders had to “identify potential flashpoints for violence early on and act to de-escalate tensions before they turn into riots or violent outbreaks”.
He also called for “tension measurements” to be taken in likely hotspots and policing resources put in place.
Police have already warned that violent demonstrations are taking a “massive toll” on forces across the UK.
Unrest in Epping outside the Bell Hotel housing asylum seekers has already cost £100,000, with Essex Police forced to draft in support from neighbouring forces after the protests turned ugly with bottles and flares thrown at police, injuring eight officers.
Last July and August, 40,000 officer shifts were worked by public order officers over 10 days to tackle the riots sparked by misinformation online after three girls were stabbed to death in Southport.
With concerns mounting that the UK could be facing another summer of unrest, the police union has warned that forces are close to breaking point.
Brian Booth, deputy chair of the Police Federation, said the UK’s national mobilisation plan, which sees officers redeployed to assist other forces when needed, means staff miss rest days and additional hours at a time when resignation rates are “off the scale” due to low morale and pay.
He added: “The demand has got too high, the service is stretched to the maximum. It’s like an elastic band, and all of a sudden, we’ll have a snap. There’s only so much pressure that can be placed on them.”
