Consider home working, MPs told ahead of possible violent disorder overnight
The message follows days of disturbances in towns and cities throughout the UK and clashes between demonstrators, police and counter-protesters.
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Your support makes all the difference.Westminster security staff are in touch with MPs who could face riots near their offices on Wednesday night, the PA news agency understands.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told elected representatives to “exercise caution” amid fears immigration and asylum assistance offices could be among the targets.
MPs are thought to have been told “home working” is one option among several to bolster their security and a Commons spokesperson has warned MPs’ safety “is fundamental to our democracy”.
According to sources, the letters – sent to all MPs – read: “The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) have reached out to Members who have offices in close proximity to these planned demonstrations, to make them aware.
“Other offices – particularly those with prominent and easily identifiable locations – may wish to consider their security protocols.”
The message follows days of violent disturbances in towns and cities throughout the UK and clashes between demonstrators, police and counter-protesters.
Rioters have damaged buildings including Southport Islamic Society Mosque, Spellow Lane Library Hub in Liverpool, a Citizens Advice office and next-door police station in Sunderland, and Holiday Inn hotels in the Midlands and Yorkshire, with fears similar violence could break out overnight on Wednesday.
James Nelson is believed to have been the first person involved in the disorder to receive a prison sentence as judges and magistrates begin to sentence guilty parties in courts throughout the country.
The 18-year-old from Victoria Road in Horwich, near Bolton, was jailed for two months on Tuesday after he admitted causing criminal damage last Sunday.
In other cases elsewhere in England, suspects allegedly led chants, including the phrases “we’re taking our country back” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah”.
A House of Commons spokesperson said: “The ability for Members and their staff to perform their Parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy.
“Abuse and intimidation is completely unacceptable.
It’s not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that
“We do not comment on individual MPs’ security arrangements or advice because we would not wish to compromise the safety of MPs, Parliamentary staff or members of the public, but these are kept under continuous review.”
PSD routinely issues elected representatives with personal security advice.
The Speaker’s letter warned MPs they should not “hesitate” to call 999 in an emergency.
Protesters have previously taken to the streets near the Palace of Westminster and Downing Street, including along Whitehall, last Wednesday.
In an update, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said all 111 people arrested in connection with the London disorder have been bailed, and added he expected to receive files from the police to review “by early next week”.
Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said earlier on Wednesday: “We have thousands of officers on tonight.
“We’ll throw the full force of the law at offenders, whether that’s charging people with assaults, violent disorder, riot. And if terrorism offences are appropriate, I know the Director of Public Prosecutions has said he’s prepared to consider that.”
Speaking inside the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, near Rotherham, which violent protesters stormed on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Coming on the streets throwing missiles at the police, attacking police, attacking hotels like this one here today is not a legitimate grievance.
“It’s not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that.”