the police will be there to respond to any violence and criminality that we see on our streets. there is no place for that on our uk streets and the police will do theirjob they have done exceptionally well over very difficult circumstances. first, the latest headlines... the main story the large peaceful anti—reits is in protests are taking place right now across the united kingdom —— antiracist. it comes as thousands of police officers are on the streets preparing for afar right a far right demonstrations and violent unrest. shops and businesses have been border —— boarded up and a number of towns and cities in england and northern ireland.

the first people convicted of violent disorder to the wave of unrest in england and northern ireland over the last few days have not been jailed for up to three years. —— beenjailed currently. russia has declared a state of emergency in the kursk region in response to what moscow says is a continuing cross—border incursion by the ukrainian military. the world health organization says it's sending a million polio vaccines to gaza, where the disease has been detected since health systems collapsed due to israel's war with hamas. thousands rally against racism in several uk cities. and — as we've been hearing — the large majority of these protests have been peaceful. riot trained police officers are on standby tonight for up to 100 far right rallies that were expected across the country. but a number of counter—demonstrations are already underway.

in brighton — there is a large police presence at a counter—protest that has spilt out onto one of the main streets in the centre of the city. this is bristol where over a thousand counter—protesters have gathered on west street where almost all the businesses on the street have boarded up their windows. in brentford — a anti—racism protest is taking place on the great west road — one of the main routes into the centre of london. and, this is the counter—protest in liverpool where a court in the city earlier today imposed the firstjail sentences on those found guilty of violent disorder that has taken place across the uk over the last week. we have our reporters across the country. let's go to newcastle, where the bbc�*s special correspondent, lucy manning, is.

what is the picture there? there have been _ what is the picture there? there have been around _ what is the picture there? there have been around 1000 - what is the picture there? there l have been around 1000 protesters what is the picture there? ti” have been around 1000 protesters out in newcastle, outside the beacon centre where there is an immigration services office, on the list with the far right were scheduled to be out here at eight o'clock tonight. there has been no sign of the far right and it would be hard to know where they would go have taken over all of the pavement outside. there has been no trouble. the police have stayed on the side roads. there have been chance ofjordan is united, we will never will be defeated, refugees welcome here, free, free palestine and the largely muslim crowd chanted god is the greatest and muslim, but there has been no trouble here and no sign of the far right. the question is this, the point where it changes the counter demonstrators take over the streets

from the rioters with the arrests and quick and heavy sentences are to have an impact. the imam of the local mosque said they were scared to come out but took reassurance from a large number of people who came out and they wanted peace and calm and once it's display unity. it is an interesting point you raise they are, whether all of these things together are a deterrent for the far right the counter demonstrators are on the streets and the tough sentences we have seen handed down and the sheer number of police, we are told some 6000 police officers been deployed this evening. i think the police and politicians will hope this is a tipping point. certain we haven't seen no trouble here tonight and the far right rioters have not turned up. there is a question about whether this could

be it is just midweek so those who may have come out, the far right, the rioters, some have work tomorrow, there's not so much drinking on a weekday, or is it actually, as people out here hope, that they have now reclaimed to the streets in a more peaceful way and the reports that we have been carrying are of quiet and longer sentences. some people are not drifting away. i think they feel they have made their point, that they have made their point, that they have made their point, that they have not allowed the far right here tonight and they will see this asjob done. here tonight and they will see this as job done-— as job done. thank you, lucy manning. — as job done. thank you, lucy manning. our— as job done. thank you, lucy manning, our special - as job done. thank you, lucy - manning, our special correspondent with the latest and newcastle. a similar picture and a number of other cities and towns that we have been reporting from in the last hour or so. been reporting from in the last hour orso. birmingham, bristol, or so. birmingham, bristol, brighton, orso. birmingham, bristol, brighton, walthamstow in east london come all of those areas that have

been counter demonstrations, but no sign of the far right who had been threatening. we can talk to the former metropolitan police chief superintendent lucy manning wondering if this could be a tipping point, at some stage, i suppose the filing unrest we have seen over the last few days has to fizzle out, do you think this will be a tipping point —— and violence. it is difficult to say but i think the police will be cautious, they mobilise the 6000 officers and i recall from 2011 we have the disorder following the shooting of mark, i ended up working for 30 days without a day off. so i think the police will be very, very anxious that they have sufficient resources in place. they want to assure that the turn of the police numbers, where they are strategically placed, ready to go to the scene, but you

will see the sentences speeding through. the three year sentence that you mention, if the person had not pleaded guilty, would have been five years these are quite severe sentences, you either stay away or you get a sentence for violent disorder if you turn up and cause mayhem. so that sentence was in seven days was a little thing to bearin seven days was a little thing to bear in mind is because so many of these people can be identified, their pictures would have been with their pictures would have been with the police, but in patches together, of all of the offences, burglary, violent disorder, could be assault on police officers, all of that will be put together and the police will be put together and the police will be ready to pounce on these people whether you turn up to... that be ready to pounce on these people whether you turn up to. . ._ whether you turn up to... that may be a friend — whether you turn up to... that may be a friend deterrent. _

whether you turn up to. .. that may be a friend deterrent. thank- whether you turn up to... that may be a friend deterrent. thank you, l whether you turn up to... that may l be a friend deterrent. thank you, we are there have been a lot of fear and anxiety because our social media, the far right groups had talked about 100 places, premises of asylum—seekers, advice centres, immigration, lawyers offices, the kind of focus —— places that would be the focus of their protests, and we have seen the character protesters to protect some of those premises. let's speak tojordan wildon, ceo of prose intelligence, an intelligence organisation which advises law enforcement and ngos on matters related to telegram. they've been analysing posts and messages on the app related to the recent unrest. tell us more about telegram and why it is so popular with the leaders of

these protests and under breast. the thin these protests and under breast. tie: thing that makes these protests and under breast. tt2 thing that makes telegram so popular is the illusion that it is encrypted and secure. the first thing is it is and secure. the first thing is it is a messaging application so it is easy to build up groups of people and easy to build a big group of people because you are not to have many members so it is good for organising protests, but there is the idea that it is encrypted and no one can look into that is what takes people think they have assisted us in the first place.— in the first place. where did telegram — in the first place. where did telegram began, _ in the first place. where did telegram began, a - in the first place. where did telegram began, a lot - in the first place. where did telegram began, a lot of i in the first place. where did - telegram began, a lot of people don't know much about it, perhaps, may be more traditional social media, instagram, x, but less about telegram. it media, instagram, x, but less about teleuram. , ., media, instagram, x, but less about teleuram. , . ., , telegram. it began initially in russia and — telegram. it began initially in russia and a _ telegram. it began initially in russia and a messaging - telegram. it began initially in - russia and a messaging application basically used to evade looking into people were doing by the russian government. a spread around based on

that. so the idea that privacy and free speech came first so it started there and spread a bit more and it really picked up a lot more in the western world during covid when there were counter protests for the lockdown restrictions and also for anti—vaccination protest because of the same reasons come people thought they were more secure there. 2, tot they were more secure there. a lot of --eole they were more secure there. a lot of people watching _ they were more secure there. a lot of people watching what _ they were more secure there. a lot of people watching what happens in the last few days in england and northern ireland will be quite shocked with notjust telegram, but social media in general about how misinformation and disinformation has been spread around wantonly, but also how it has been used to organise some of this violent unrest to get people on the streets even telling them what to do, i've seen reports of advice on how to commit arson, how to set fire to buildings and make petrol bombs and all of that kind of thing. the

and make petrol bombs and all of that kind of thing.— that kind of thing. the really big thing there _ that kind of thing. the really big thing there is — that kind of thing. the really big thing there is we _ that kind of thing. the really big thing there is we have _ that kind of thing. the really big thing there is we have seen - that kind of thing. the really big thing there is we have seen the | thing there is we have seen the usual organising groups which is usually like it small groups of people who want to go out and protest and usually peacefully. and you have a mesh there are a lot of groups who found themselves near extremists, neo—nazis, extremists, the spotting fare is unrest and then seeing how to infiltrate to get more violent action to help towards their goals. that is what we have seen specifically on telegram is the ability to cross pollinate between the two which makes it more threatening, more scary. is the fact he can nap people start spreading, here's how to make molotov, here's how to blow things up, here's how to target, dress, because they have that as part of their interests set and their goals to try to destabilise society. it and their goals to try to destabilise society. and their goals to try to destabilise socie . , . . destabilise society. it is alarming and ou destabilise society. it is alarming and you wonder _ destabilise society. it is alarming and you wonder what _ destabilise society. it is alarming and you wonder what the - destabilise society. it is alarming i and you wonder what the authorities can really do to stop it. fine and you wonder what the authorities can really do to stop it.— can really do to stop it. one of the bi thins can really do to stop it. one of the

big things is _ can really do to stop it. one of the big things is more _ can really do to stop it. one of the big things is more resources - can really do to stop it. one of the big things is more resources to be| big things is more resources to be able to look into this. what we are doing is making sure people have the ability to find the people who are plotting to do this. but it is possible even on the messaging applications like this, you can build a profile for people to be able to say, here's what's happening, he what they're doing in here is what they are plotting. the key thing across social media is we need more access from the companies themselves. they make it difficult, something that becomes the case so we have enough information to say, we have enough information to say, we can pinpoint this and this and get to this person.— we can pinpoint this and this and get to this person. good to talk to ou. thank you for the interesting analysis on how these groups have been using telegram and other social media to organise some of the unrest we have seen. with me is now is dal babu, former chief superintendent at the metropolitan police.

of some 30 years standing. let's talk about social media as we were there because i suppose that that is one thing that hasn't really changed incrementally over the more groups with more and more sophistication using social media, telegram as we were hearing but also x and other social media, not only to spread their messages of hate and disinformation, but to organise and that makes it very hard for the police. they can read this and they knew what was coming, in some ways, or what was planned for tonight, but it does mean these groups can organise quite quickly. it is it does mean these groups can organise quite quickly.- it does mean these groups can organise quite quickly. it is a two edued organise quite quickly. it is a two edged sword _ organise quite quickly. it is a two edged sword because _ organise quite quickly. it is a two edged sword because the - organise quite quickly. it is a two - edged sword because the open source information means that the police can have access to that and plan accordingly, there are two other things that we need to be looking at. we talk about misinformation and it is a euphemism for lying. people

just told blatant lies and we saw the tragic murder of those three girls, what followed was blatant lies, giving him a muslim named saying it was and asylum—seekers coming over on a boat, it wasjust saying it was and asylum—seekers coming over on a boat, it was just a light people spread that without any verification and we subsequently found out he was a person from a christian family was born in this country. so i think we need to understand the difference. misinformation is one aspect. the other aspect is people who have caused a huge amount of hate who are banned from twitter have now been allowed back onto twitter or x so people like tommy robinson who have had an increase of over 200,000 people in it of his followers in the last few weeks. so people who have been accused of hatred, misogyny, homophobia, have been kicked off the site, but have been allowed back on. so that is another issue. i think what we have seen is the failure of

governments across the world to be able to say to the social media sites, that this behaviour is not acceptable. brute sites, that this behaviour is not acceptable-— sites, that this behaviour is not accetable. . ., ., ~ sites, that this behaviour is not accetable. . ., ., ., acceptable. we have an elon musk who runs x, acceptable. we have an elon musk who runs x. formally _ acceptable. we have an elon musk who runs x, formally twitter, _ acceptable. we have an elon musk who runs x, formally twitter, who's - runs x, formally twitter, who's weighed in and the last few days. for example, he said that civil war is inevitable in the united kingdom and has criticised keir starmer and so on. t and has criticised keir starmer and so on. ., and has criticised keir starmer and so on. . , ~ so on. i find that quite shocking because this — so on. i find that quite shocking because this is _ so on. i find that quite shocking because this is a _ so on. i find that quite shocking because this is a country - so on. i find that quite shocking because this is a country that i so on. i find that quite shocking because this is a country that is| because this is a country that is an ally of ours. with the special relationship with america and have elon musk saying things like civil war is inevitable. this is not north korea. this is not russia where we talk about in terms of telegram so it is worrying when we have people who are saying those kinds of things. so with the government is going to have to do is be much more robust within the tech companies and say these are your social responsibilities, you may have a model of developing profit, but that is not acceptable, if you were going to have hatred spewed out from them. i know lots of people have refused

to go onto twitter or x because the level of vile content that is put on there. he could be absolutely anybody and say things and people need to remember, even if they are sitting in their bedroom, rioting messages, encouraging riots, they will be sought out and found and convicted of offences. so i hope people take heed from the impressive police operation we have had that will lead to people being identified, arrested and put through the court system very quickly. thank ou once the court system very quickly. thank you once again. _ the court system very quickly. thank you once again, dal— the court system very quickly. thank you once again, dal babu, _ the court system very quickly. thank you once again, dal babu, we - the court system very quickly. thank you once again, dal babu, we will. you once again, dal babu, we will keep you here. dal babu, former chief superintendent with the metropolitan police. it will take a break now. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the head of the metropolitan police, sir mark rowley, says anyone caught taking part in violence — whether on the streets or online — will face the full force of the law. more than 400 people have been arrested since the riots started a week ago after the southport stabbings. three men who took part in that initial violence were sent to jail today for up to 3 years. from liverpool here's dominic casciani. we we re we were just talking to dal babu about the deterrent effects that that will send to other protesters from the far right. a week of violence and now the wheels ofjustice visibly turning, swiftly, for the first three men to be jailed for violent disorder. three years for derek drummond. 30 months for declan geiran. and 20 months for liam riley. last week, they'd attacked their communities. on monday, they admitted

their crimes and today, at liverpool crown court, they faced the consequences. derek drummond joined the 1,000—strong mob that marched on southport�*s mosque last tuesday. he attacked police as they battled to contain the violence. declan geiranjoined a gang in liverpool last saturday. he set fire to a police van and watched it burn. elsewhere in the city the same day, liam riley was among 100 people advancing on police as some threw rocks and bricks. an officer grappled him to the ground. riley, who was clearly drunk, shouted that he was a "traitor" and "muslim lover". today, thejudge said the disorder had been the most foul and racist abuse. "this was not mindless thuggery. "you and every other defendant i am dealing with today made a choice to get involved," he said. the three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve

themselves in violent unrest. many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time. riley, drummond and geiran mistakenly thought they would escape justice. they now face an extended period of time behind bars, and their criminal convictions will stay with them forever. but how many will be deterred? police chiefs spent today preparing for up to 100 far—right gatherings across england, some claiming they will target immigration lawyers and refugee support centres. 6,000 riot—trained officers are on standby, under a national mobilisation plan last used to end riots in 2011. we've changed our tactics in the last couple of days. so, besides marshaling more officers, we are brigading some of them at key strategic locations across the country, to give us more agility to respond to over the protests are most intense, so that we can respond with agility and show overwhelming force, so the criminals and thugs on the streets don't succeed.

i know the public will be feeling anxious about the reports of potential more unrest tonight. but the police will be there to respond to any violence and criminality that we see on our streets. there is no place for that on uk streets, and the police will do theirjob, like they have done exceptionally well, under very difficult circumstances, like i've seen here and witnessed today what they faced. tonight, some premises are taking no chances. additional security in place, staff safely at home, waiting to see what might come. let's show you the seen life in cory didn't from our helicopter. you can see lots of right police and their fans there. these are some of the 6000 or so riot trained officers this evening who have been deployed because of fears of 100 potential

targets for far right protests and unrest. places like a device centres for asylum—seekers, law firms that help migrants and asylum—seekers, the sort of premises has potentially been targeted online. but so far, we have not really see any of those far right protests really materialise. we have seen in a number of cities, newcastle, birmingham, bristol, brighton, walthamstow, east london, to name a few, what we have seen is large counter demonstrations taking place, antiracism demonstrations and protesters who want to protect some of those protesters from possible attack from far right groups. but these, just some of the police out in force around uk tonight. let's talk to dal babu former chief superintendent at the metropolitan police with experience in this

matter. these bar records weeds speak about them as one single entity but who are their leaders? domain is the english defence league but they are disparate group of individuals and organisations and they are involved in into fighting between themselves but what we have seen is them come out in the last week or so to work together. the difficulty below police have is normally when you have a group demonstrating and fees were justify eating, they were not there for a peaceful demonstration, you have an organiser or person you could speak to, very much like what you've seen tonight you have the anti—fascists, antiracist groups, people would have organise that. we have heard trade unions have organised a lot of these eventually the police would go to that person, agree with time they are going to be there, where they will be staying at, what they can or cannot do come with the limitations are. i think with the far right, when you have groups loosely

associated with the english defence league, largely forms around about 2009, 2008 as football supporters from places like luton, stoke, porterville, those kinds of areas, they are basically, they are a mile but that turned up and they are ready for a ruckus. so that's the difficulty with the police have had in the first week where i think the intelligence is much more established now and have a good group in terms of where people are going to be turning up and i think most importantly, they have success in officers, fleet of foot, position strategically, ready to go out. the final thing i would say is if people have been demonstrating, they know, and rioting, that their photographs have probably been taken and if they turn up again, they are likely to be arrested. ., ~ turn up again, they are likely to be arrested. . ,, , ., , turn up again, they are likely to be arrested. ., ~' , ., , . former metropolitan police super chief intended. we are watching pictures from the helicopter and this is just some of the vast number

of riot trained police officers who are on the streets around england and northern ireland this evening in preparation for any more violent unrest. so far there has not been any. we havejust seen unrest. so far there has not been any. we have just seen this country demonstrations in places like birmingham, bristol, brighton, newcastle, parts of london as well, but as you can see, number of police station there. stay with us, we will have plenty more on the situation in the united kingdom in terms of those protests. you are watching bbc news. hello there. the next 2a hours look fairly unsettled. we've got another weather system working in off the atlantic that's going to bring a stronger breeze, cloud, outbreaks of rain, so an unsettled day tomorrow. after we start off with

some sunshine the cloud will tend to build in. and we've had a breezy day today, thanks to this area of low pressure that's brought windy weather to scotland and plenty of showers, but it's moving away. the showers fade away in this brief ridge of high pressure through the overnight period, so a drier, clearer night to come for northern, central and eastern areas, but the signs of this weather front starting to approach wales south—west england with increasing breeze. outbreaks of rain temperatures lifting here mid—teens. i think for most though we're looking at ten to 12 celsius. so for thursday, here's the new area of low pressure working its way in slowly from the atlantic, it looks like it'll be dry and bright with some sunshine across scotland and eastern parts of england. but very soon the clouds out west will spread northwards and eastwards throughout the day and outbreaks of rain move in as well. some heavier bursts for north wales, north—west england, up southern and western scotland, elsewhere very patchy and probably staying dry across the southeast. but a breezy day to come for all because of the lack of sunshine, it's not going to be particularly warm. temperatures of 15—21 degrees from north to south across the uk. the rain gradually peters out as the system pushes

off into the north sea. it does turn drier through thursday night and to start friday, we start to import some warm and muggy air across england and wales, so 15—18 degrees here, low teens further north. for friday though, we are in a run of westerly winds. so it's going to be a fairly breezy day but a bright one. quite a bit of sunshine around. a lot of dry weather for england and wales. probably the showers affecting northern and western scotland, northern ireland and north west england, but elsewhere i think it should stay dry all together and a warmer day to come. the low 20s in the north up to around the mid 20s further south. now this is just a taste of things to come because i think as we head into the weekend we could see a short lived hot and humid spell. this heat moving up from france and spain likely to affect parts of england and wales, particularly towards the south east. the peak of the heat will be around sunday into monday, so we could be into the low to mid 30s celsius across the south east, even warmer there for cardiff, but it's pretty short lived as temperatures return closer

to normal after tuesday.

hello, i'm ben brown. you're watching the context on bbc news. across the uk, thousands of anti—racist protestors take to the streets. police are on standby

for further unrest. we were just showing you some pictures from our helicopter in croydon. pictures from our helicopter in cro don. ., , ., . , pictures from our helicopter in cro don. ., , ., . croydon. lots of police up on the streets there. _ croydon. lots of police up on the streets there. we've _ croydon. lots of police up on the streets there. we've just - croydon. lots of police up on the streets there. we've just been i croydon. lots of police up on the i streets there. we've just been told, actually, _ streets there. we've just been told, actually, that this is not linked to those _ actually, that this is not linked to those possible far right protests. 0r those possible far right protests. or any— those possible far right protests. or any response to them. it actually appears to be linked to pure anti—social behaviour in croydon and pleaser moving in there to make arrests, so not linked to the protest that a large number of police on the streets there in croydon, you can see them in the van and sent out on the streets. there are a large number of antiracist protests in the uk this evening.

these are