Ex-Labour councillor charged with encouraging violent dysfunction
A suspended Labour councillor has been charged with encouraging violent disorder after being filmed addressing a crowd at a rally in London.
The Crown Prosecution Service said today, Ricky Jones, 57, appeared to “make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protestors.” The CPS added that Jones, who was arrested on Thursday, was charged within 48 hours.
Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder.
“Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protestors.”
She added: “He has been arrested and charged within 48 hours, and will now appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, 9 August 2024.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
The councillor in Dartford, Kent, has already been suspended by the Labour Party. “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” a party spokesman said earlier this week.
Jones was expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon.
On Wednesday, thousands of anti-racism demonstrators took the streets to protest against recent scenes of violent disorder by far-right thugs across the country.
