where there are particular days, where there are particular pinch points? i mean, it is no insignificant things for the prime minister to call a last—minute press conference. we only found out about this a few hours ago. a last—minute press conference to say to the country, really, this is something we are concerned about, here is what we are concerned about, here is what we are concerned about, here is what we are putting in place to make sure we are putting in place to make sure we are putting in place to make sure we are properly prepared for it. a very early test for the prime minister, but a sign, i think, he wants to be seen to be out on top of this at the first opportunity. yes. this at the first opportunity. yes, we are just _ this at the first opportunity. yes, we are just keeping _ this at the first opportunity. yes, we are just keeping our - this at the first opportunity. yes, we are just keeping our eye on that at downing street because we are expecting the prime minister any moment. but while we are waiting, i wonder if you have any insight as to whether there is any more disorder expected? whether this is something that those police chiefs are hearing, that they are trying to get ahead of any further protests?

there is clearly chatter on social media about that sort of thing and thatis media about that sort of thing and that is often when this stems from, it is not as organised as protester might have seen years ago, that of the reason it is so challenging to deal with, the disorderly so on tuesday in southport seems to have stemmed from misinformation being circulated on social media that brought people into that area and lead to some of the violent disorder resorts so there is going to absolutely be concern amongst police but also government ministers about what could happen over the next few days. we don't know for sure what will happen but the fact that there was a real disorder on tuesday in southport then spreading disorder over the past 2a is in other parts of england like manchester and london and hartlepool is bound to cause concern and that is in no small part iv are standing here

waiting to hear from the small part iv are standing here waiting to hearfrom the prime minister and attempt to say we are on top of this, monitoring it, we know what could happen over the next few days and want to try and ensure things do not get worse. it is significant — things do not get worse. it is significant that _ things do not get worse. it is significant that the _ things do not get worse. it is significant that the prime minister calls a press conference on this, shows the importance to get this message out. shows the importance to get this message out-— shows the importance to get this messaue out. ~ ,,., , ., message out. absolutely, to get the electron out — message out. absolutely, to get the electron out and _ message out. absolutely, to get the electron out and number _ message out. absolutely, to get the electron out and number ten - message out. absolutely, to get the electron out and number ten albeit l electron out and number ten albeit inside and have a press conference as a significant thing for the prime minister to do, it is worth mentioning the context, westminster normally winds down around this point, summer holidays have started for mps, they are not around just now saw the government was starting to wind down a bit after the election campaign, winding back up to have this press conference to say to have this press conference to say to people this is why we are worried

about the situation developing with these protests. i am about the situation developing with these protests.— about the situation developing with these protests. i am interacting you because keir— these protests. i am interacting you because keir starmer _ these protests. i am interacting you because keir starmer is _ these protests. i am interacting you because keir starmer is about - these protests. i am interacting you because keir starmer is about to . because keir starmer is about to speak. we are clearly having some issues with receiving the sound from downing street, we will try to draw. i call on everyone to give them and the wider community at southport the space to grieve. and time for the authorities in merseyside to do theirjob. there will be a time of one questions and we will make sure that the victims and families in southport are at the heart of that process. that is the very least we

will these families but we also own them justice so whilst there is a prosecution that must not be prejudiced, for them to receive the justice they deserve the time for answering those questions is not now. i remind everyone that the price for a trial that is prejudice is ultimately paid by the victims and families who are deprived of the justice they deserve. let me turn to the actions of a tiny mindless minority in our society. in the aftermath of this attack the community of southport had to suffer twice, a gang of thugs got on trains and buses, went to a community that is not their own, a community grieving the most horrific tragedy

and then proceeded to throw bricks at police officers who just 24—hour as earlier had been having to deal with an attack on children in the community. make no mistake, whether in southport, london or hartlepool these people are showing our country exactly who they are, mosques targeted because they are mosques, flails thrown at the statue of winston churchill and nancy sorts at the cenotaph. i have felt a meeting with senior police leaders we have resolved to show who we are, a country that will not allow understandable fear to curdle into division and hate in our committee.

it will not permit under any circumstances a breakdown in law and order in our streets because let's be clear about this, it is not protest, it is not legitimate, it is crime, violent disorder. an assault on the rule of law and execution of justice and so on behalf of the british people who expect their values and their security to be upheld, we will put a stop to it. i want to thank all the police officers across the country who have already as they do so often stood up to intimidation and violence in the past few days. and throughout the summer. let me be clear, the meeting this afternoon was not about pointing the finger of blame, that

is not how this government of service conducts its business. because it does not work, rather this was a meeting to pull together our response, both to the immediate challenge which is clearly driven by far right hatred but also all violent disorder that flails up whatever the apparent cause of motivation. we make distinction, crime is crime and to that end i can announce today the following this meeting we will establish a national capability across police forces to tackle violent disorder. these thugs are mobile, they move from community to community and we must have a policing response that can do the same. shared intelligence, wider deployment, facial recognition technology and preventative action, criminal behaviour or does to

restrict their movements. before they can even board a train. injust they can even board a train. injust the same way be do with football hooligans. let me also say two large social media companies and those who run them, violent disorder clearly whipped up online is also a crime, it is happening on your premises and the law must be upheld everywhere, thatis the law must be upheld everywhere, that is the single most important duty of government, service rest on security and we will take all necessary action to keep our streets safe. i will take a number of questions from the media. i will start with alex from bbc. can questions from the media. i will start with alex from bbc.- questions from the media. i will start with alex from bbc. can i ask how concerned _ start with alex from bbc. can i ask how concerned you _ start with alex from bbc. can i ask how concerned you are _ start with alex from bbc. can i ask how concerned you are that - start with alex from bbc. can i ask how concerned you are that the - how concerned you are that the violence we have seen may spread, are you providing extra police resources and preparing any

clampdown on the far right groups that are being blamed for this and if you are how can you give and they are often very desperate. and are you satisfied with the way the bbc answered day handled the huw edwards case. in answered day handled the huw edwards case. ., ., ., ., . case. in relation to the violence we have seen. — case. in relation to the violence we have seen. the _ case. in relation to the violence we have seen, the whole _ case. in relation to the violence we have seen, the whole point - case. in relation to the violence we have seen, the whole point on - have seen, the whole point on pulling together the meeting was to have a coordinated response, the clear message from police and law enforcement is not that they need more powers, we have to wean ourselves off the idea the only the sponsors to pass more legislation every time we have a challenge, it is to use the existing powers we have, pulling together intelligence and data to make sure that a shared across police forces and as these groups are bounced around the country we have the same response robust response and we are clear

that this is violent disorder and not protest and that needs to be the starting position of the policing response. i am shocked and appalled and relation to issue edwards and the culture secretary is meeting the director—general of the bbc later today. i director-general of the bbc later toda . , ., , director-general of the bbc later toda. ,~ , today. i will try and win people off today. i will try and win people off to a three questions _ today. i will try and win people off to a three questions and - today. i will try and win people off to a three questions and one. - today. i will try and win people off| to a three questions and one. paul from channel _ to a three questions and one. paul from channel 4. _ to a three questions and one. paul from channel 4. you _ to a three questions and one. paul from channel 4. you mention - to a three questions and one. paul from channel 4. you mention the l from channel 4. you mention the national capability _ from channel 4. you mention the national capability across - from channel 4. you mention the national capability across all - national capability across all police forces, we have spoken to your labour mp in hartlepool and he says cleveland police were simply overwhelmed, the do not have a number of officers to deal with what they had to so will you be fast tracking the recruitment of more police officers, what you are announcing today increase the number of police officers on the streets. we have a ready made a commitment to

increasing police numbers which were made into the general election and particularly to work in neighbourhood policing and that did come up in the meeting in terms of the capability needed and to be frank what happens in the next few weeks matters and that is not a question on its own of recruitment which takes longer. it is a question of coordinating the response and making sure the capability we have to share intelligence and data and have a coordinated response and to act as quickly as possible and cases so rs are forward swiftly by charges. it is an attempt to pull that together so those that engage in criminal behaviour which this is well feel the full force of the law very quickly and that is the most important aspect coming out of this meeting. important aspect coming out of this meetinu. ., ., ,, important aspect coming out of this meetinu. ., ., i. , .,, meeting. how do you stop the far ri . ht from meeting. how do you stop the far right from hijacking _ meeting. how do you stop the far right from hijacking issues - right from hijacking issues especially when so many members of those groups often say they are

being influenced by charismatic leaders often pushing for the division use you want to tackle and if i may british muslims across the country will have seen these riots or demonstrations unfold, mosques being attacked, watched as shops have been looted and chance which are grossly offensive, partly because of misinformation. they say they feel unsafe, what is your message to the british muslim community. it message to the british muslim community-— message to the british muslim communi . , ., , ., ., community. it is really important to emhasise community. it is really important to emphasise over _ community. it is really important to emphasise over and _ community. it is really important to emphasise over and over _ community. it is really important to emphasise over and over again, - community. it is really important toj emphasise over and over again, the price paid for those that put out misinformation and interfere in the work of the authorities are trying to do in southport, the prices paid ultimately by the mums and dads grieving the children because if there is not a fair trial that gives

in the justice they want they are the ones that will suffer the most. nobody should pretend that they are speaking for those families when they involve themselves in activity like this because they are putting what is now the single most important thing for those families which is to grieve properly and to have the justice to which they are entitled. that is why this is so important. in addition to the muslim community, we have been very clear i will take every step necessary to keep you safe and that is why i said what i did about mosques being attacked because they are mosques. the far right is showing who they are, we have to show them who we are in response to that and that is why be put together this response to try to coordinate and make sure as we face the next few days and weeks we have the strongest possible response in order to ensure there is safety for all our citizens including those

muslims who will see attacks on their mosques because they are mosques. john from sky. you talked about better — mosques. john from sky. you talked about better coordination, _ mosques. john from sky. you talked about better coordination, clearly i about better coordination, clearly that as one of the purposes of the meeting, how concerned are you about perhaps apparent inconsistencies of approach by police forces, for example four arrests in southport over 100 here, different groups being treated differently whether it is far left or far right and some have suggested resources you have mentioned, smallerforces not able to cope what can southport with help having to be called in. you have said no to extra police powers but what about banning some of these far right groups as angela rayner has suggested. in right groups as angela rayner has su: nested. ., ., ., suggested. in relation to the inconsistency, _ suggested. in relation to the inconsistency, i— suggested. in relation to the inconsistency, i do _ suggested. in relation to the inconsistency, i do think- suggested. in relation to the

inconsistency, i do think you i suggested. in relation to the - inconsistency, i do think you can measure the number of arrests and say there is inconsistency because that depends on event by event but there was an attempt and an agreement to pull together a national response so that that consistency and support as they are and the sharing of intelligence and data, that is not a criticism of any of the forces that were trying to deal with difficult situations as they arise but to give him the support they need more quickly so they can react more robustly. in relation to preventative measures, one of the issues that came up this morning, this afternoon as criminal behaviour orders which can be attached to convictions for these offences which give the police and authorities the ability to put their arms around and have a tight grip of those already shown their true cards and been convicted and i would personally like to see more use of those orders in the same way they

are used in football hooligan cases to stop people travelling and identify them and prevent their behaviour because these are not protesters, you do not protest with a rocket and your hand, you go to commit violent disorder that i need to be clear about that and those orders would help us in a preventative space. do orders would help us in a preventative space. orders would help us in a reventative sace. , ., _, preventative space. do you welcome the decision — preventative space. do you welcome the decision to _ preventative space. do you welcome the decision to name _ preventative space. do you welcome the decision to name the _ preventative space. do you welcome the decision to name the suspect - preventative space. do you welcome the decision to name the suspect in| the decision to name the suspect in this case a paralytic and to end some of the disinformation and this is an unusual summer, are you worried because defacing a summer of rights. the worried because defacing a summer of riahts. ., ., ., rights. the naming of the individual is a matter for— rights. the naming of the individual is a matter for the _ rights. the naming of the individual is a matter for the court, _ rights. the naming of the individual is a matter for the court, the - is a matter for the court, the decision has been taken and it is in the public domain, i will not say more about that because the purpose of the rules and relation to the information available is to ensure that can be a fair trial and might starting point on that is very much

the victims and their families because the price for the trial going wrong is paid by the family and friends of victims of crime. i cannot imagine the added pain that would be piled on that was anything that got in the way of the trial of this particular issue. in relation to the next few weeks and months, it is obvious to me and anybody looking in that as far as the far right is concerned this is coordinated, this is deliberate, this is not a protest that has got out of hand, it is a group of individuals who are bent on violence and that is why it is important to pull together the senior police and one. we does to ensure that is met with the most robust response in the coming days and weeks. you

robust response in the coming days and weeks. ., , ., ., and weeks. you set a violent disorder _ and weeks. you set a violent disorder is — and weeks. you set a violent disorder is being _ and weeks. you set a violent disorder is being whipped . and weeks. you set a violent disorder is being whipped upi and weeks. you set a violent - disorder is being whipped up online, what will you do to combat that spread of disinformation, hauling and social media companies, the rapid rebuttal unit and what is your message to nigel farage who asked whether the truth was being withheld. in whether the truth was being withheld. ., ., ., withheld. in relation to the platform — withheld. in relation to the platform providers, - withheld. in relation to the platform providers, some. withheld. in relation to the. platform providers, some of withheld. in relation to the . platform providers, some of it withheld. in relation to the - platform providers, some of it is as complicated as it may one seem, so inciting violence online is a chemical offence —— a criminal offence and not a matter of free—speech. clearly and relation to platform providers there is a balance to be struck, social media platform providers is amazing opportunity be all enjoy as a country that is very important that these platforms are the two be used for the great opportunities they provide. there is also irresponsibility that goes with it,

thatis irresponsibility that goes with it, that is the space for a mature conversation to take place. and relation to the comments of others, i will not stand here and cast judgment on what others are saying, i know what i am saying and why i am seeing it very clearly which is my focus whenever i am confronted with questions about this is only families and victims of those particularly in southport who were so affected by this. i would also add the police officers i had the privilege to speak to after the incident who had to deal in the first response to this, they were back on duty remarkably but unsurprisingly, i was able to thank them for what they had done but i will not pretend they were not affected by what they had to witness and deal with. they said to me i was simply doing myjob and of course they were but doing yourjob, there is no way what happened to them or

had to endure and respond to was anything other than extraordinarily challenging but i think if we all start with a clear focus on the victims and their families and the police officers who had to respond to this one for attack that would be a good template framework for the discussion all these matters. iligell discussion all these matters. nigel farare is discussion all these matters. nigel farage is the _ discussion all these matters. nigel farage is the leader _ discussion all these matters. nigel farage is the leader of _ discussion all these matters. nigel farage is the leader of reform, he did very well in the election and he has been accused of spreading conspiracy theories about the southport tragedy and has response to it. is it enough to see you will not comment on what he has said given that some people including a former police chief have linked his comments to the violence that broke out. i comments to the violence that broke out. ., ., ., out. i will not have a running commentary _ out. i will not have a running commentary on _ out. i will not have a running commentary on the - out. i will not have a running commentary on the motivesl out. i will not have a running i commentary on the motives of out. i will not have a running - commentary on the motives of other people, what i am saying is my focus is on the families and victims at

the heart of this and that should be the heart of this and that should be the focus for everybody. anybody who says does anything that impedes their ability to get the justice they deserve cannot claim to be acting in their best interest. because the are not.- acting in their best interest. because the are not. john from the middle. because the are not. john from the middle- what _ because the are not. john from the middle. what consequences - because the are not. john from the middle. what consequences will. because the are not. john from the middle. what consequences will be because the are not. john from the i middle. what consequences will be of social media firms fail to take action. , . social media firms fail to take action. ,. ,, ., social media firms fail to take action. , ., ,. ,, ., ., social media firms fail to take action. ,. ,, ., .,, action. there is a discussion to be had and that _ action. there is a discussion to be had and that is _ action. there is a discussion to be had and that is a _ action. there is a discussion to be had and that is a balance - action. there is a discussion to be had and that is a balance because| had and that is a balance because social media as a fantastic opportunity but also carries responsibility and that is the mature discussion we have had. what we have done today as discussed with law enforcement and the police which is pulling things together for a coordinated response. what has not what will recently with the previous government and my view is the

performative politics of a government planning everybody else and pointing fingers —— blaming everybody else and that is not effective, it is the performative politics i have put an end to with a government of service. my approach is to roll my sleeves up and get the people around the table and fix the problems and meet the challenges as a country. we did that with law enforcement and the police this afternoon, a similar approach with social media which is not performative politics which gets you nowhere but the politics of service which is to actually work together to address the challenges we have and make sure we keep the country safe and respect the values of our fellow citizens which are about more enforcement, security and safety. thank you all very much indeed. that was keir starmer _

thank you all very much indeed. that was keir starmer ending the press conference in which he said the violence that followed the attack in southport meant the committee had to suffer price, he called the protesters gang of thugs and said make no mistake and southport or london or hartlepool, these people are showing our country exactly who they are. you said it is not much admit protest, it is crime. but spring and nick who was listening to that. one of the key thing is the prime minister mentioned was the national violent disorder unit, can you tell us more about what you understand by that. it is supposed to be a unit _ understand by that. it is supposed to be a unit that _ understand by that. it is supposed to be a unit that will— understand by that. it is supposed to be a unit that will deal- understand by that. it is supposed to be a unit that will deal with i to be a unit that will deal with people travelling around the country to different protests and the same way as keir starmer put it as football hooligans travelling out of the country so it will be able to share intelligence, technology like facial recognition and able to issue

criminal behaviour orders to try to stop people travelling around the country and identify real the protest may take place. i am not completely sure how quickly that will get into action but clearly a sign from the prime minister that there is concern that this sort of thing we have seen over the past 48 hours could continue and spread. that was one of three things i picked out of the press conference, the establishment of the unit, the other was some of the rhetoric the premise that was using, clearly designed to be as condemnatory as possible talking about people being responsible for crime and violent disorder saying he does not consider this protest but considers these people thugs, also significantly was talking about social media companies saying where crimes were committed on social media they were still crimes being committed on those platforms. there was no deal sense about what might happen in practice

to deal with that but the message was pretty clear from to deal with that but the message was pretty clearfrom keir starmer that he is 11 inc social media companies need to deal with this, try to deliver a message to the public that this behaviour will not be tolerated and three setting up the unit that are supposed to make it easier for police to clamp down on the sort of behaviour.- it easier for police to clamp down on the sort of behaviour. thank you. to recap the — on the sort of behaviour. thank you. to recap the press _ on the sort of behaviour. thank you. to recap the press conference i on the sort of behaviour. thank you. to recap the press conference was i on the sort of behaviour. thank you. | to recap the press conference was in response to the unrest sparked by the death of three young girls and a naval attack at the taylor swift themed dance class in southport. the teenager who has been charged with murdering three young girls has been named as axel rudakubana who is 17 and appeared before the crown court and appeared before the crown court and liverpool this morning. you can keep up—to—date with all the developments on the story, it is all

on a website, there is a live page now. you are watching bbc news. let me recap, the countries involved in this huge person that exchange we are talking about, we are showing your live pictures from the turkish capital where there are a number of planes on the ground, between which the prisoners are being moved, former prisoners moved to take them to their destinations after this present a swap so we do not have the full list of names. you are talking about 26 prisoners earlier but it is more accurate to say 24 because to our children who are the children of

a couple involved in the swap. 24 prisoners and two others involved in this swap. the planes on the ground, the prisoners, former prisoners are being moved between and the countries involved just to remind you are the us, germany, poland, slovenia, norway and russia. a really huge scale, the biggest personal exchange as we have been reporting since the end of the cold war. with me as frank gardner, what is interesting about this and we have to put it in context, if very specific of circumstances but here is a former british ambassador to russia was saying, you have an example of where russia and other countries notably the us can do a deal and stick to it. it countries notably the us can do a deal and stick to it.— deal and stick to it. it will be surprising —

deal and stick to it. it will be surprising to _ deal and stick to it. it will be surprising to a _ deal and stick to it. it will be surprising to a lot _ deal and stick to it. it will be surprising to a lot of - deal and stick to it. it will be surprising to a lot of people, deal and stick to it. it will be l surprising to a lot of people, i deal and stick to it. it will be i surprising to a lot of people, i am honoured to getting messages... sorry to cut you off but the wall streetjournal are treating that evan gershkovich is free. confirmation from the wall street journal that the reporter evan gershkovich is three. as one of ctrl it is said he has been a cause celebre in the usa, the 32—year—old journalist was charged with treason and sentenced last year and there is the image of him and the wall street journal tweeting that he is indeed one of those who had been freed, we were sure he was on the west but now confirmation when they will be jubilant that they are colleague evan gershkovich is a free man once more. he was arrested in march last

year, working in russia, convicted of spying charges at the time the wall streetjournal and others in the us had said these charges were absent, he had been simply carrying out his work as a journalist but now confirmed as one of those freed. they have reported just and the last ten minutes that evan gershkovich left the russian aircraft that had taken him from russia to tuckey and with a number of other americans and left the aircraft in and karai and the neighbour ap did 40 gets on the plane. it's good to washington. we

will go to will grant now in washington. tell us more about evan gershkovich? that washington. tell us more about evan gershkovich?— gershkovich? that is the official word from _ gershkovich? that is the official word from his _ gershkovich? that is the official word from his employer, - gershkovich? that is the officiali word from his employer, hugely important today. everyjournalist important today. every journalist will important today. everyjournalist will in that newsroom will have wanted to see this, every editor who has ever worked on that newspaper will have wanted to see this. anyone working on the wall streetjournal would have been hoping for this day without getting their expectations too high because it isjust so complex, but their real, putting it out there now that he is a free man. real cause for celebration, notjust for the wall streetjournal, for us journalism in general. we heard from the committee to protect journalists, those sorts of organisations have been working very hard to secure his release, keeping up hard to secure his release, keeping up the pressure on diplomats and the biden administration and whoever might have some clout in terms of

being able to bring