who liked to their accusations of bias at the police because we stand in the middle, we operate independently under the law without fear or favour. the sentencing of the first rioters to be convicted of violent disorder is under way at liverpool crown court. us vice president kamala harris makes her first public appearance with new running mate tim walz — with a second rally planned for tonight the israeli army issues a new evacuation order for palestinians in gaza — it says it's in response to a series of rockets fired from the area on tuesday. it's day 12 of the paris olympics. we look at what can be expected in wednesday's events. hello.

welcome to bbc news now, 3 hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we start here in the uk, where it's just over the week since riots began across the country, and now the first people involved are being sentenced. three men convicted of violent disorder in southport are at liverpool crown court, learning their fate. so far, more than 400 arrests have been made and about 100 people have been charged in connection with the national unrest. police sources say nearly 6,000 officers have been mobilised in preparation for more violence — there are reports up to 30 further demonstrations are planned for wednesday. the prime minister has promised communities will be kept safe. sir keir starmer said he had assurances there were sufficient officers in place, should violence flare. (biv)the were sufficient officers in place, should violence flare. the violence was fuelled by disinformation linked to the killing of three young girls in southport last week. an inquest has opened

into their deaths. speaking a short time ago, the metropolitan police commissioner mark rowley gave an update on how police is preparing for what could be another day of unrest. protecting communities is the core of policing. as police chiefs we have been meeting regularly and marshalled dozens of police officers across the country. we had changed tactics the last few days. besides marshalling or others as we are abrogating some of them at strategic locations across the country to give more agility where the protests are the most intense so we can show overwhelming force so criminals on the streets do not succeed. we hear immigration — the streets do not succeed. we hear immigration centres _ the streets do not succeed. we hear immigration centres and _ the streets do not succeed. we hear| immigration centres and immigration lawyers being targeted. how concerned are you? me lawyers being targeted. how concerned are you?- lawyers being targeted. how concerned are you? lawyers being targeted. how concerned are ou? ~ . , ., concerned are you? we have seen that list circuiated- — concerned are you? we have seen that list circulated. it _ concerned are you? we have seen that list circulated. it is _ concerned are you? we have seen that list circulated. it is the _ concerned are you? we have seen that list circulated. it is the centre - list circulated. it is the centre are planning tonight also keeping an open mind on other possibilities and other intelligence coming into the

system. we have dozens of officers who will protect those people. it is completely unacceptable to com pletely u na cce pta ble to intimidate completely unacceptable to intimidate any sector of lawful activity and we will not let the immigration and asylum seeker system be intimidated. the folks and criminals targeting them will not. we will stop at. we had the first of the sentencing verdicts to bring you. derek drummond has beenjailed for three years for taking part in the violent disorder in southport. he is the first avenger to be sent to prison for the events since the trouble began. he has also been sent to prison for two months for punching a police officer to run concurrently. to confirm, we have had the first sentence through, derek drummond, jailed for three years for taking

part in this violent disorder in southport. he is the first of the offenders for this event since the trouble began and also confirming he has been sentenced to two months for punching a police officer that will run concurrently. we are waiting for more from liverpool crown court. we will bring you that as soon as we get it. let's speak to lord ken macdonald, former head of the crown prosecution service. very good to see you. can you respond to the sentencing of derek drummond? three years for taking part in violent disorder in southport. is that what you would have expected? the southport. is that what you would have expected?— southport. is that what you would have exected? . , . have expected? the maximum sentence is five ears have expected? the maximum sentence is five years so — have expected? the maximum sentence is five years so this _ have expected? the maximum sentence is five years so this is _ have expected? the maximum sentence is five years so this is what _ have expected? the maximum sentence is five years so this is what i _ is five years so this is what i would have expected. you get a discount if you are only guilty for about 30%. essentially this is the toughest sentence this judge can

get. a sentence of three years is a substantial sentence and exactly in line with what i would expect the courts to be doing in response to this wave of criminal disorder. does the 'ustice this wave of criminal disorder. does the justice system _ this wave of criminal disorder. does the justice system right _ this wave of criminal disorder. does the justice system right now have the justice system right now have the capacity to deal with the volume of a due —— of arrests being made and what is going on? it of a due -- of arrests being made and what is going on?— of a due -- of arrests being made and what is going on? it does at the moment. there _ and what is going on? it does at the moment. there have _ and what is going on? it does at the moment. there have been - and what is going on? it does at the moment. there have been about. and what is going on? it does at the i moment. there have been about 400 arrests in say ten areas. that is 40 in each area. the crown prosecution service, the court system and the prisons are well capable of dealing with that sort of level. if we moved to a situation where thousands of people are being arrested we would have to move the prosecutors from some other duties to these cases and we would have to have the court sitting slightly longer hours. that is all manageable and has happened in the past. i am sure authorities will manage it successfully if it is necessary. i5 will manage it successfully if it is necessa . , will manage it successfully if it is necessary-—

necessary. is it happening at the seed we necessary. is it happening at the speed we would _ necessary. is it happening at the speed we would expect? - necessary. is it happening at the speed we would expect? it - necessary. is it happening at the speed we would expect? it is - speed we would expect? it is critical that _ speed we would expect? it is critical that justice _ speed we would expect? it 3 critical thatjustice should be done speedily. people need to know if they are taken off the street a prosecutor will be waiting to process their cases. they will appear in court within 24 hours or so and they will be dealt with. this is only 80 days after the relevant incidents in southport and we are seeing a real effort on the part of the criminaljustice and local authorities to get these cases through the system quickly and have people dealt with quickly. if through the system quickly and have people dealt with quickly.— people dealt with quickly. if more prosecutors _ people dealt with quickly. if more prosecutors are _ people dealt with quickly. if more prosecutors are needing - people dealt with quickly. if more prosecutors are needing to - people dealt with quickly. if more prosecutors are needing to tackle | prosecutors are needing to tackle this and made of other duties, does it raise concern about delays and problems for other cases? it is inevitable _ problems for other cases? it is inevitable there _ problems for other cases? it 3 inevitable there were delays with other cases. the cps lost 30% of its prosecutors. there were strains and stresses in the system. these cases would take weeks or months to come

to court. 0bviously, prosecutors had to court. 0bviously, prosecutors had to move from other cases to deal with these ones will cause stresses and strains. these cases will nevertheless be prioritised. what nevertheless be prioritised. what are our nevertheless be prioritised. what are your thoughts _ nevertheless be prioritised. what are your thoughts on _ nevertheless be prioritised. what are your thoughts on this thinking it should be called domestic terrorism? i it should be called domestic terrorism?— it should be called domestic terrorism? ~' .,' . , terrorism? i think the offences we have available _ terrorism? i think the offences we have available to _ terrorism? i think the offences we have available to us _ terrorism? i think the offences we have available to us here - terrorism? i think the offences we have available to us here are - have available to us here are sufficient. violent disorder, sentences of up to five years, inciting racial hatred for sentences up inciting racial hatred for sentences up to seven years. riots, sentences up up to seven years. riots, sentences up to seven years. riots, sentences up to ten years. criminal damage, sentences up to ten years. the criminal law can deal adequately with these people once they peek guilty or are being found guilty. i think the sentences are sufficient. i would not be in favour of allowing terrorism law to bleed into what is essentially common or garden criminal thuggery. essentially common or garden criminalthuggery. i essentially common or garden criminal thuggery. i think they are facts, common or garden criminals and the criminaljustice system

should treat them as such. you are not seeing — should treat them as such. you are not seeing an _ should treat them as such. you are not seeing an ideological _ should treat them as such. you are not seeing an ideological or- not seeing an ideological or political cause here.- not seeing an ideological or political cause here. there may be others behind _ political cause here. there may be others behind this _ political cause here. there may be others behind this hill— political cause here. there may be others behind this hill are - others behind this hill are encouraging it, inciting it from behind—the—scenes. when people like that are arrested and i am confident they will be, we will have to look at those cases and decide the appropriate charges. charges of conspiracy or inciting riots would bring sentences up to ten years, a pretty heavy sentence. i think we should avoid losing terrorism law for this sort of thuggery and for organisers of this sort of thuggery if we can possibly do so. terrorism is a particular sort of eventing and i think we should keep terrorism legislation for that sort of offending and just for the kind of offending and just for the kind of offending it has been traditionally associated with.— offending it has been traditionally associated with. what about action for social media _ associated with. what about action for social media companies? - associated with. what about action for social media companies? howl for social media companies? how should the law reflect that? the

oane should the law reflect that? the online safety — should the law reflect that? the online safety act _ should the law reflect that? tue: online safety act has should the law reflect that? tta: online safety act has been passed should the law reflect that? t'ta: online safety act has been passed by parliament to pay certain duties on people running these companies. i do think if companies like twitter or facebook are hosting messages and incitements to this kind of behaviour they should be liable and they should be criminal liability on those companies if they do not take the appropriate steps to clean the stuff of their systems. 0rdinary people in britain and straight up and down the country, shopkeepers, people going about their daily business are suffering the consequences of this sort of messaging and it is about time i think those people running those platforms, if they fail to cleanse their platform appropriately of this kind of stuff, face criminal liability themselves. irate kind of stuff, face criminal liability themselves. we have another piece _ liability themselves. we have another piece of _ liability themselves. we have another piece of news - liability themselves. we have another piece of news to - liability themselves. we have | another piece of news to bring everyone, breaking news from criminal crown court. declan kieran has been jailed for 30 criminal crown court. declan kieran has beenjailed for 30 months. 28 months for violent disorder and setting fire to a van in liverpool

and another two months for malicious communication. jailed for 38 and spent 28 months for violent disorder, setting fire to a police van in liverpool and a further two equipment in relation to vicious communication. can you help us understand that buying a further two equipment in relation to vicious communication. can you help us understand that final one, the crime of malicious communication? tt is of malicious communication? it is robabl of malicious communication? te 3 probably relating to a post man e—mail, a message he set up which contain some deliberate untruths, some incitement, some encouragement of criminality. no doubt it will be an electronic communication that he made and the sentence will be in relation to that. irate made and the sentence will be in relation to that.— made and the sentence will be in relation to that. we also had liam rile also relation to that. we also had liam riley also jailed _ relation to that. we also had liam riley also jailed for _ relation to that. we also had liam riley also jailed for 20 _ relation to that. we also had liam riley also jailed for 20 months. i riley also jailed for 20 months. back to the role of the social media companies at the moment and your

thoughts. how big a change is this for prosecutors dealing with the kind of technological advances and the use of social media since the days when you were in charge? tt is days when you were in charge? it is an illness- — days when you were in charge? it is an illness. we _ days when you were in charge? te 3 an illness. we had social media to an illness. we had social media to an extent. i was in charge between 2003 and 2008. now it is an enormous area for prosecutors to have to deal with. some of the sites, some of these telegram encrypted sites are cesspits of criminality, incitement and conspiracy. the cd affects on the streets. the government will have to think hard about the online safety act and bringing parts of it into balls. 0ne safety act and bringing parts of it into balls. one piece of legislation may be needed to hold people responsible, the people controlling these companies and are responsible for keeping content on these companies websites and various channels lawful. what measures we need we don't yet have to bring home

to them they have liability for this stuff and they cannot publish this stuff and they cannot publish this stuff with impunity, they publish stuff with impunity, they publish stuff leading to violence on the streets of britain and they will be held responsible.— held responsible. let's bring our olitical held responsible. let's bring our political correspondent - joining us from westminster. take us through the government's strategy at the moment? 5ir through the government's strategy at the moment?— the moment? sir keir starmer, the prime minister, _ the moment? sir keir starmer, the prime minister, has _ the moment? sir keir starmer, the prime minister, has made - the moment? sir keir starmer, the prime minister, has made it - the moment? sir keir starmer, the prime minister, has made it clear l prime minister, has made it clear what he wants to do is to make clear to communities they are safe and the government is doing all it can and it has been reassured there are police in the places they are needed. he held one of his emergency committee meetings where one of these cobra meeting last night and came after that and try to reassure to people of what the government was doing and the police were doing. he stressed the idea that people would be sentenced very quickly and you would face justice within a week. now he will be relieved and the government will be relieved to see these sentences being handed down today. they are keen to stress they

are taking action and if you are involved in this, either in person or online, another thing they are keen to stress, if you are involved in that you will face justice very, very swiftly. 0bviously, in that you will face justice very, very swiftly. obviously, the concern for the police at the moment as well is the level of unpredictability. that is right. keir starmer talked about setting up an army of police officers. the idea is you had this group of police officers deployable because obviously this has spread across much of england, bits of belfast. we have seen it around various bits of the united kingdom. the idea is you have these officers and they can be deployed quickly when needed and that is the idea behind that because again if you look at today, there is speculation could riot or disorder in more than 30 places. 0bviously at the moment it is not clear exactly where that will be. what you want is a very quick and swift and very deployable

force. ., . , ,., ., ., force. how much is it important to liaament force. how much is it important to ligament right _ force. how much is it important to ligament right now _ force. how much is it important to ligament right now they _ force. how much is it important to ligament right now they can - ligament right now they can communicate what is happening in the courts and policing in the hope it is a deterrent?— is a deterrent? that is right. it will be a key — is a deterrent? that is right. it will be a key part _ is a deterrent? that is right. it will be a key part of— is a deterrent? that is right. it will be a key part of this. - is a deterrent? that is right. it will be a key part of this. the i will be a key part of this. the government has stressful several days and is continuing to stress this moniker if you are involved in this moniker if you are involved in this you will face justice and place it quickly. they had keir starmer putting a message out last night and the communities minister this morning on the airwaves said much the same thing, that online and off—line with this crime will be treated the same way and there will be consequences for the people involved. 0bviously, be consequences for the people involved. obviously, the hope is if you see people in the community or people you know and are connected with being sentenced to these sentences, —— for these offences, it will put you off. sentences, -- for these offences, it will out you off-— sentences, -- for these offences, it will put you off-— will put you off. you are head of the crown _ will put you off. you are head of the crown prosecution -

will put you off. you are head of the crown prosecution service i will put you off. you are head of| the crown prosecution service in 2003 to 2008 and the prime minister following in your footsteps. 2003 to 2008 and the prime minister following in yourfootsteps. what 2003 to 2008 and the prime minister following in your footsteps. what do you make of the response and strategy so far? t you make of the response and strategy so far?— you make of the response and strategy so far? i think he has got it ri . ht. strategy so far? i think he has got it right- he _ strategy so far? i think he has got it right. he was _ strategy so far? i think he has got it right. he was dpp _ strategy so far? i think he has got it right. he was dpp in _ strategy so far? i think he has got it right. he was dpp in 2011 - strategy so far? i think he has got it right. he was dpp in 2011 whenl it right. he was dpp in 2011 when there were riots following the shooting of mark duggan. the prosecutor will respond under his direction was pretty hard—core, pretty serious and pretty relentless. there was no surprise he would adopt a similar approach here. he clearly and correctly believes that securing public peace and order is the first priority and first duty of any government and he has said that several times. 0ne of any government and he has said that several times. one of the big issuesis that several times. one of the big issues is the extent to which public confidence to protect the community has been called into question and thatis has been called into question and that is intolerable. we had a scene in middlesbrough on saturday night where a road block was manned by stopping cars to check the people

driving who were white and english. there is an intolerable assumption and the state cannot tolerate that. the via keir starmer is the state will not tolerate that and these people will be dealt with. the response will be very firm and clear and he will want these people dealt with quickly and he will believe that as in 2011 that is the best way to stop this behaviour in its tracks. ~ ., , to stop this behaviour in its tracks. ~ . , , . , tracks. we are seeing some pictures at the moment. _ tracks. we are seeing some pictures at the moment. i _ tracks. we are seeing some pictures at the moment. i cannot _ tracks. we are seeing some pictures at the moment. i cannot actually - tracks. we are seeing some pictures| at the moment. i cannot actually see anyone here with a mask on but that has been a real concern, that people attending these demonstrations with masks on, it seems like, in an attempt to obviously avoid justice, as it were. what does the current legislation say... you can see them here actually. about demonstrators, people on the streets wearing masks. there is an old piece of legislation dating back to 1990 requiring the

police to get individuals to remove their masks. it is not illegal to wear one. there was provision in the criminaljustice act, the most recent one that was not taken forward, to create a new offence of wearing a mask with intention to threaten someone or avoid prosecution. we need to look very carefully at that division and consider introducing it. there is a lot of public concern some of these people coming to these demonstrations are intending to commit offences with unmasked precisely to avoid justice and fend with impunity. that is wrong and i think most people would think it is wrong. there are some sensitivities around this. if people wear masks deliberately to commit crime and avoid being brought tojustice deliberately to commit crime and avoid being brought to justice that should be an unlawful act and the government should bring forward legislation to avoid in future that is an unlawful act and people can arrest people in that category from wearing masks at demonstrations. share

wearing masks at demonstrations. are there any other laws help in prosecuting authorities and police in these circumstances? t prosecuting authorities and police in these circumstances?— prosecuting authorities and police in these circumstances? i think we have a decent _ in these circumstances? i think we have a decent range _ in these circumstances? i think we have a decent range of _ in these circumstances? i think we have a decent range of laws - in these circumstances? i think we l have a decent range of laws around public order, a lot of law around public order, a lot of law around public order, a lot of law around public order, not to get in to terrorism legislation that regular laws around finding disorder and writing and inciting racial hatred. we have plenty of laws. they have good policing system is a good court prosecutions and we have an outstanding judiciary. we have everything in place and we have to put the measures into effect and thatis put the measures into effect and that is what seems to be happening with you reporting that people are being sent to prison. t with you reporting that people are being sent to prison.— with you reporting that people are being sent to prison. i hope you can sta with being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us — being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us if _ being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us if you _ being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us if you have _ being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us if you have the - being sent to prison. i hope you can stay with us if you have the time. i stay with us if you have the time. it has been fascinating getting your valuable insights. in liverpool we have seen two man jailed for 30 months and 20 months for violent disorder and one jailed for three years for taking part in the southport disorder. we will bring you more from livable very, very

shortly. to stay with us here on bbc news. —— from liverpool.

just to update on the breaking news. three menjailed just to update on the breaking news. three men jailed for violent disorder on merseyside after we saw the stabbing of those girls in southport. police preparing for more possible riots across england. nearly 6000 police officers have been mobilised. let's continue our discussion with lord macdonald, head of the crown prosecution service from 2003 to 2008. one issue we have not got to is that of prisons. what do you make of capacity at the moment and what needs to be done? we moment and what needs to be done? - have got to view prison cells and governments in recent years have been happy to pass into law new crimes, they have increased sentences and reduced remission and

increased terrorists and have not built prison cells. the government has made clear it will prioritise finding sales for people who are convicted as a result of these events of disorder and i am sure they will do that. they may have to release other prisoners earlier, a week or two earlier than would otherwise have been the case. i am confident no one will avoid a prison sentence arising out of these events because there are not enough prison cells. , ., ., i. cells. very good to have you with us. we cells. very good to have you with us- we know _ cells. very good to have you with us. we know you _ cells. very good to have you with us. we know you had _ cells. very good to have you with us. we know you had to - cells. very good to have you with us. we know you had to go - cells. very good to have you with us. we know you had to go but . cells. very good to have you with - us. we know you had to go but thank you for taking the time to talk to us. alicia, you're still with us from westminster and listening in to what lord macdonald told us about his thoughts. just bring us up to date with the latest from the government. actually, we are going to take you straight to liverpool. that's listening to the crown prosecutor. sentences have been handed down for

the unacceptable disorder in southport last week. the actions would have built panic in the revulsion and chaos in local communities. the three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, the start of what would be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest. many involved will be sentenced to prison for a long time. their disturbing images we had seen across the country meant —— manipulated by agitators in person and online by localfamily still agitators in person and online by local family still grieved loved ones is an unforgettable and selfish at each and every person sentenced today will have to live with. violence rioting and aggression will never be tolerated in this country and we stand ready to use the full. the law against any others who have been or are considering joining these intolerable scenes. the crown prosecution service message is clear. whatever your motivation for

targeting police, inciting hatred or wreaking havoc on your community, you will be strictly punished. reilly, drummond and ciaran mistakenly thought they would escape justice. now they face in extending to me extended period of time behind bars. we will continue to work side by side with our police partners to ensure the criminaljustice system responds to any and all incidents of disorder as swiftly as possible. the result today, many serve as a warning for those carrying out criminality on our streets great you will always suffer the consequences. thank you. will always suffer the consequences. thank ou. ., will always suffer the consequences. thank ou. . ., thank you. that statement from the cps outside — thank you. that statement from the cps outside the _ thank you. that statement from the cps outside the liverpool _ thank you. that statement from the cps outside the liverpool crown - cps outside the liverpool crown court, just saying that they stand

ready to use the full force of the law. they will swiftly punish anyone found to be responsible for any violent disorder, really issuing a warning to anyone intending to take to the street in a violent way today outside the court as well for us is dominic. just wrap up what has happened today, what you heard in court and that statement. i{tuite court and that statement. quite siml court and that statement. quite simply today — court and that statement. quite simply today but _ court and that statement. quite simply today but we _ court and that statement. quite simply today but we have - court and that statement. quite simply today but we have seen l court and that statement. quite l simply today but we have seen is court and that statement. qt, te: simply today but we have seen is one of the most important elements of justice, justice being seen to be done because the man in court today effectively took part in disorder a week ago. they all pleaded guilty on monday and today they have all been jailed pretty swift in the scheme of things. thejudge here, the liverpooljudge, he did not hold backin liverpooljudge, he did not hold back in his comments about what he thought of these men. he said they had brought disgrace on their communities, on the town of

southport with the violent disorder there and also on this fine city of liverpool, known for its creativity in all of that wonderful people in the words of the judge. he started by reflecting on events leading up to this, there had been a community in absolute shock following the attacks and the deaths of the three children in southport. the community had been trying to come together for a vigil. 0n had been trying to come together for a vigil. on that same night they came togetherfor a vigil a vigil. on that same night they came together for a vigil including police officers who had actually taken part in the operation following the attacks. those same officers found themselves being bombarded with bricks and anything else and a violent crowd of up to 1000 people, what they could find. taking out their fury on the police. 0ne taking out their fury on the police. one man in the dock today, derek drummond, he was described as having multiple convictions down the years for violence. multiple convictions down the years forviolence. not multiple convictions down the years for violence. not multiple convictions but he had a dark side

to his character. he had attended the events in southport, telling police he had gone to attend a vigil. later he was part of the violence. we saw three video clips being played in court of drummond wearing a polo shirt and shorts, effectively attacking police officers. in one situation some police officers, there were enormous amounts of pressure to hold the police line, a few of them in front of this crowd and drummond can be seen smashing up against them, he smashed one officer. he later said, i will give you a quote, i had let southport down, i have let the kids down, i let my family down. he has got a lot of time to think about that now, three years in jail.

low pressure will bring a windy day across the northern half of the country are most of the showers will be here, and if you are showers the further south you are, and the wind not quite as strong with wide isobars compared to what we expect across the north of the uk and this is where we have most of the showers. that showers will fade out through the evening and we will see thicker cloud piling into wales and

south—west england as the next weather front moves in and some splashes of rain by the time we reach dawn but we will import some slightly milder air to the southern areas, so the mid—teens in the south and between ten and 12 degrees further north. it's all tied in with another area of low pressure weather weather fronts pushing another area of low pressure weather weatherfronts pushing in during another area of low pressure weather weather fronts pushing in during the course of thursday but we start brate in northern and eastern areas and then the cloud begins to build through the morning spreading to all areas with outbreaks of rain. pretty widespread rain, nothing too heavy but it could pep up across north—west england and southern and western scotland where it could be heavier later in the afternoon and a breezy day to come for all, windy in northern and western areas. temperature wise, the high teens in the north, low 20s across the south because of the lack of sunshine, not as quite as warm this afternoon. and the rain clears out through thursday night and leaves a legacy of cloud, one or two showers across the north—west of scotland but we will pick up some warm air across southern areas so a muggy night to

come across england and wales compared to what we have across scotland and northern ireland. for friday we are in a run of western south—westerly winds, so a bright and breezy day and sunshine around and breezy day and sunshine around and a few showers in northern and western scotland, and the odd one for northern ireland perhaps for cumbria but largely dry elsewhere and drive for eastern scotland and some decent temperatures at the low to mid 20s as you can see, 25 or 26 degrees across the south—east and that's the sign of things to come for england and wales as things are hotting up in the weekend but a brief and intense plume of hot air is expected to move north out of france. that could push temperatures into the low to mid 30s across the south—east of england but even the high 20s there. this is bbc news. the headlines. the first sentences for rioters convicted of violent disorder have been handed down in three men have

been handed down in three men have beenjailed. nearly 6000 police officers are mobilised across the uk,