Riots have been erupting up and down the UK linked to the far-right. Arrests have been flowing with people found guilty potentially facing lengthy prison sentences.
Already, multiple reports of suspects being charged by police across the country have been coming in, with some of those already named and remanded in custody. Over 370 people have been arrested at the time of writing, with police wasting no time trying to stamp out anti-immigrant and anti-Islam hooliganism.
The unrest, which spilt out of a vigil in Southport for Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, on Tuesday (July 30), has now gone nationwide with fears further action is still to come. However, people arrested could be looking at hefty stints in the cage, according to the Sentencing Council. Suspects have already appeared in court, with some pleading guilty and others not guilty. Many have been denied bail and instead remanded in custody.
Among those detained until trial are Liam Riley, 41, of Liverpool, Lloyd Killner, 35, of Lincoln, Declan Geiran, 29, of Liverpool, Jimmy Bailey, 45, of Ellesmere Port and John O’Malley, 43, of Southport. Many of these men have been given dates to next appear in court at the end of August. One rioter, who was bitten by a dog during the unrest is reported to have started crying in court as he admitted violent disorder.
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The numbers are only going up, with 11 people appearing in Liverpool Magistrates Court in connection with recent disorder yesterday, while some 28 people are due at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today charged with violent disorder and other offences following disturbances in Middlesbrough at the weekend. Similarly, six people are appearing in a Sheffield court following riots outside a hotel in Rotherham over the weekend.
If found guilty, sentences for people involved could be lengthy. According to The Sentencing Council, under the Public Order Act 1986, the length of sentences varies depending on both the culpability and the level of harm an individual has done.
People with maximum culpability will fall within these criteria and are deemed Category A:
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Offender used or intended to use petrol bomb or incendiary device
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Offender used or intended to use firearm or other highly dangerous weapon
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Offender was an instigator or carried out a leading role
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Offenders actions escalated level of violence and/or disorder
If they were rioting but didn’t do these things, they fall inside Category B. Meanwhile, in terms of the level of harm caused, people fall into Category 1 – the most serious – if they exhibit multiple extreme examples of:
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Incident results in serious physical injury or very serious fear and/or distress
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Incident causes serious disruption or severe detrimental impact to community
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Incident causes loss of livelihood or substantial costs to businesses
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Incident causes substantial costs to be incurred to public purse
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Incident involves attacks on police or public servants
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Incident results in extensive damage to property
Category 2 cases are for all other cases that fall outside of these criteria.
People falling in Category 1A can face sentences of seven to nine years in prison, while people in Category 1B can receive sentences of four to seven years.
Being part of a riot does not mean participants will definitely get a custodial sentence, however.
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People whose crimes fall inside Category 1B can also get four to seven years. Those inside Category 2B face a custody range of three to six years.
The Sentencing Council adds: “A custodial sentence must not be imposed unless the offence or the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it was so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified for the offence. There is no general definition of where the custody threshold lies.”
Triable only by indictment, the maximum possible term is 10 years custody.