MPS risk stirring up public disorder, police chief warns

POLITICIANS need to temper their language to avoid inciting disorder over Brexit, a senior police chief has warned, as it emerged that at least 10,000 officers are on standby to tackle any unrest.

Martin Hewitt, the chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said it was “incumbent” on anyone in a “position of responsibility” to express their views in a way that did not incite violent behaviour.

“I am thinking about disorder and people being responsible in the way they speak,” he said. “There’s a responsibility on those individuals that have a platform or voice to communicate in a way that is temperate and not in any way going to inflame people’s views.

“All groups of people need to think carefully. We are in a febrile atmosphere. If people are in a position that they are going to be listened to, they need to think about the language they are using so they don’t end up with unintended consequences.”

The NPCC has disclosed that more than 10,000 officers from units in all 43 forces trained to combat riots, public disorder and looting, are on standby. Some 1,000 are ready to be deployed within an hour of any trouble.

The numbers are larger than for the 2011 riots, with additional specialist armed officers, dog patrols and search experts also on standby, said Chief Constable Charlie Hall, NPCC lead on operations. More than 1,000 officers are also available to be deployed from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland with armoured personnel carriers.

Fifteen forces have placed some restrictions on leave.

Commander Adrian Usher, who is responsible for parliamentary protection, said MPS had been provided with extra security following a rise in abuse, threats and malicious communications.