Protests have broken out across Britain following the murder of three young girls in Southport. The demonstrations entered their seventh day on Monday with mass gatherings in Plymouth, Birmingham, Belfast and Darlington.
Following the protests, Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said politicians should not be too quick to label the riots as terrorism.
In an exclusive poll of more than 28,000 readers by The Telegraph, 88 per cent agreed with Mr Hall, who told the BBC’s Today programme: “I think you have to be careful about using counter-terrorism effectively in a live incident, it would escalate.”
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Reader Cliff Buck also expressed concerns about the term terrorism: “The surest way to promote real terrorism is to label people with legitimate grievances as terrorists.
“Have no lessons been learned from past events like this?” asked Mr. Buck.
“Terrorism charges are a very powerful tool and should not be foolishly underestimated,” began one anonymous Telegraph reader, adding: “By classifying crimes as terrorism, people can be held for longer without trial and harsher sentences can be imposed.”
ACH Melchett argued that “terrorism requires a political objective,” and they did not believe that the majority of rioters “were smart enough or informed enough to have a political objective. They were simply the lower classes looking for a fight.”
‘There is no justification for the senseless riots’
Some readers suggested that if the rioters’ actions bordered on terrorism, they should be treated as such.
Thomas Shepherd gave the following example: “If you throw a stone at the police because you want to restrict and control immigration, you run the risk of being prosecuted under the terrorism laws.”
He added: “Just because you have sympathy for these people, this simple fact doesn’t change anything.”
Another reader shared a similar sentiment: “There is no need to change the laws to classify this as terrorism. If the violence crosses the threshold, then the police should prosecute accordingly.
“This would of course also apply to those who attacked the mosque and the hotel.”
Mr Whitehouse argued: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of immigration, there is no justification for the mindless rioting and misrule we have seen in recent days.”
Meanwhile, some claimed that the riots were not acts of terrorism, but violent acts. Or, as reader Sarah Vaughan put it, “Civil unrest is not ‘terrorism’!”
Julie Blackburn said: “This is not terrorism, it is just disgusting, hateful violence for the sake of violence and I honestly cannot see what good these people are to humanity.”
Another reader, Ian Errington, agreed that “they are not terrorists. They are thugs, pure and simple. A lot of people need to go to jail very quickly.”
Finally, Steve Hughes argued that “the people on both sides involved in these riots are criminals,” and said he feared “this will escalate into outright racial conflict in some cities.”
He continued: “This could result in sectarian no-go areas and be catastrophic for our country. The failure of both parties to manage immigration for decades has created this situation.”
‘Police must be balanced’
In addition, some Telegraph readers spoke of what they saw as a “two-tier” policing response to the riots.
John Bates said he believes “there is absolutely a ‘two-pronged’ response. When other minorities have caused civil unrest in the past, the left has excused their behavior by saying they are marginalized and have a genuine grievance.
“These protests – even if there are elements who want to cause problems and who need to be stopped – are simply dismissed as ‘far right’, without any attempt to refute or address their complaints.
“There is an underlying cause, even if it is simply ignorance, but Cooper and Starmer do not want to address it because it does not fit their narrative.”
Reader Michael Morley also argued that “policing needs to be balanced, not soft on one group but tough on another. You need to condemn all violent protests – not kneel to some.”
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Philip Hood argued that while there may or may not be a two-tiered policing situation in this case, many believe that immigrants are treated more favorably by authorities because those authorities are much more interested in showcasing their virtues than in doing their jobs.
“This in turn can lead to hostility from indigenous people, who feel they are not being fairly represented.”
‘A Cobra meeting is not the answer’
Meanwhile, reader Geoffrey Dobson notes that “despite the apparent evidence, even if Keir Starmer doesn’t believe a two-tier policing system exists, he should be aware that there is a growing perception that it is happening – and that it needs to be responded to appropriately”.
An anonymous reader echoed the sentiment: “The Prime Minister needs to get out more – out of Westminster, out of London, out of areas where there is enough money to safely shield yourself and your family from the problem.
“He needs to walk through the problem areas and ask himself why they are the way they are. A Cobra meeting is not the answer. Talking to real people in the most problem areas is.”
In a letter, Ian Duckworth wrote: “The Prime Minister has sent the right message to the riots.”
However, he asked: “Will Sir Keir Starmer’s actions match his rhetoric? His promise of a tough response will have been welcomed by many citizens, so it is crucial he delivers on it.
“In the longer term, people’s genuine and legitimate concerns about immigration must also be addressed.”
‘The riots are not the cause, they are a symptom’
Many readers saw the riots as a symptom of the wider problems of mass immigration in Britain.
Mr Morley wrote: “All the mainstream parties have failed to represent the majority’s desire to restrict immigration. They have failed to accurately report the crimes committed by immigrants posing as asylum seekers, just as the police failed victims of rape gangs who operated with impunity for years.
“I am not a fan of these riots, but they are not a cause of anything, they are a symptom. Politicians, together with the political justice system, are the cause.”
Echoing this sentiment, reader Carter Billington called the riots “a cry for help.” He explained: “Maybe people in Britain want the government to change the immigration laws, maybe people have had enough? Why aren’t politicians addressing these issues within the community? It’s very sad to see this unrest.”
Reader Mark Stanley also weighed in: “It’s funny how Sir Keir Starmer says that rioters don’t represent Britain. That’s true, destroying things is never the answer. However, Mr Starmer needs to realise that a large part of Britain is unhappy with the level of immigration, the erosion of our values and the level of crime.”