Basildon residents praised for 'unity and togetherness'

Gavin Callaghan paid tribute to Essex Police for working to alleviate the fears of far-right protests in the town sparked by posts on social media.

The protests, which failed to materialise, were expected to happen on Saturday, and followed concerns earlier in the week of widespread far-right action across the UK on Wednesday.

In south Essex this failed to occur, with Southend counter-protesters turning out in force at the site of a rumoured protest.

Mr Callaghan has said he is enormously pleased to see the “unity and togetherness” of people across the borough.

He said: “The anticipated riots in Basildon did not materialise last weekend.

“I’ve been enormously pleased to see the unity and togetherness of people across our borough in response to the thuggery that we saw in other areas last week.

“I am hugely grateful to the men and women of Essex Police who have been in constant contact with the council over the last week, and who have done great work to alleviate fears and ensure that businesses, faith groups and community groups can all continue to remain open.”

Praise has also been directed at Prime Minister Keir Starmer for “the incredibly quick way that he has managed to command and mobilise the machinery of Government across the police, Home Office, CPS and courts,” to “bring the far-right thugs to justice”.

Sir Keir repeatedly warned those involved in the violence that they will feel the “full force of the law”.

A week of disorder began after a mass stabbing of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last month.

Rioters attacked police, mosques, shops, and a hotel housing asylum seekers after incorrect rumours that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker, who had arrived in the UK on a small boat, were spread via social media, appearing to fuel the unrest.

Police had arrested 779 people in connection with the rioting, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said on Saturday.