Main content

Starmer will be judged on how he tackles root causes of riots

The prime minister spent a large chunk of his career in the criminal justice system. He's put police chiefs and prosecutors front and centre to land core messages in this unrest.

Sir Keir Starmer was the chief prosecutor of England and Wales during the last major outbreak of civil unrest in the UK in 2011, overseeing the prosecution of thousands of people involved in five days of rioting.

This time around, the PM said that rapid and well-publicised action by the courts was key in bringing the unrest to an end. And this time ministers have emphasised 鈥渟trong policing and swift prosecutions鈥 to deter others joining the violence.

What happens, though, when the violence stops, the guilty rioters have been sentenced and the COBR meetings are over?

成人快手 political correspondent Joe Pike takes a look.

(Image: Getty)

Release date:

Available now

8 minutes