Ministers are ready to unleash a “strengthened” crackdown on rioters if last year’s “shameful” scenes are repeated this summer.
In a sign that Sir Keir Starmer is not willing to tolerate a repeat of the riots that followed the Southport murders in 2024, the Home Office has issued a statement saying it is prepared for any disorder that might erupt this year.
It comes in the wake of a furious reaction to comments made by the shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who was accused of “inciting hatred” at a particularly tense time by attacking a council in London that is providing help to asylum seekers.
The row broke out amid rising tensions in Epping, Essex, where a hotel housing asylum seekers has been targeted by far-right protesters.
The tensions have prompted a former top prosecutor to call for “much, much more” to be done, saying that local community “Cobra” meetings should be “happening now” in potential hotspots and that policing resources should be put in place to prevent further outbreaks of unrest.
Earlier, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed that the authorities are ready to respond if fresh riots erupt this summer, as tensions simmer over migrant hotels in communities across the UK.
He said that government agencies, police and emergency services are prepared for potential disorder after violent demonstrations took place outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping.
The scenes have been reminiscent of the violence that broke out following the murder of three children in Southport, which led to riots and disturbances in 18 towns and cities across England and Northern Ireland.
But a government spokesperson said: “While the public have a right to protest against the current situation, we will never tolerate unlawful or violent behaviour. Working closely with the police, we have thorough and well-tested contingency plans in place to deal with any public disorder, which have been strengthened since last year’s shameful scenes.”
Demonstrations in Epping threatened to spread to London this week after false rumours claimed that migrants were being moved from the Bell Hotel in Epping to the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf.
Protesters gathered at the site, which is currently empty though the Home Office has earmarked it for housing migrants in future. A ring of steel has now been set up outside the building in response to days of protest outside. The protective fencing has been put in place for fear that the protests, which have so far been limited, could escalate into scenes similar to those seen in Epping.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to her fellow cabinet ministers this week, warning them that the UK faces a repeat of last year’s summer riots unless “the government shows it can address people’s concerns”.
Former top prosecutor Nazir Afzal said that “much, much more” needs to be done. He said politicians and political parties have to “make it clear that hate speech, discrimination, and incitement to violence will not be tolerated”.
Mr Afzal called for local community “Cobra” meetings to be “happening now”, and said the police and community leaders need to “identify potential flashpoints for violence early on, and act to de-escalate tensions before they turn into riots or violent outbreaks”.
He also called for “tension measurements” to be taken in likely hotspots, and policing resources to be put in place.
Meanwhile, Mr Philp, the shadow home secretary, enraged charities by attacking Wandsworth Council in London for providing 6,000 asylum seekers with taxpayer-funded cards.
Commenting on a story which claimed they used the card for gambling, he said: “Labour are literally letting illegal migrants gamble with our hard-earned taxes.”
But a Labour source said: “Instead of stoking division, the Conservatives should own up and take responsibility for the mess they’ve made.”
Meanwhile, Steve Smith, chief executive of the charity Care4Calais, said: “Politicians like Philp are now going out of their way to incite the sort of hatred we’ve seen on the streets of Epping with their dangerous rhetoric. People know that Philp, and the Tories, don’t care about working-class families in Wandsworth, or any other part of the country. Their record in government shows that.
“What they are doing is using refugees seeking sanctuary in the UK as pawns to sow division. The real reason life is challenging for too many families is because of bad bosses, rogue landlords and incompetent politicians.”
But Mr Philp retorted: “What is truly divisive is a government that refuses to protect its own citizens, then slanders them when they ask why and treats them with utter contempt. This is an obvious smear tactic from Labour to cover up for their failings.
“We demand a functioning asylum system, and it’s dangerous policy to pretend one exists.”
Police have already warned that violent demonstrations are taking a “massive toll” on forces across the UK. Unrest in Epping outside the Bell Hotel has already cost £100,000, with Essex Police forced to draft in support from neighbouring forces when the protests turned ugly. Bottles and flares were thrown at police, injuring eight officers.
Last July and August, 40,000 officer shifts were worked by public order officers over 10 days to tackle the riots sparked by misinformation online after three girls were stabbed to death in Southport. With concerns mounting that the UK could be facing another summer of unrest, the police union has warned that forces are close to breaking point.
Brian Booth, deputy chair of the Police Federation, said the UK’s national mobilisation plan, which sees officers redeployed to assist other forces when needed, means staff miss rest days and have to work additional hours at a time when resignation rates are “off the scale” due to low morale and pay.
He added: “The demand has got too high; the service is stretched to the maximum. It’s like an elastic band, and all of a sudden, we’ll have a snap. There’s only so much pressure that can be placed on them.”
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