Claim of 'two-tier policing' in last year's riots is false, say MPs

The police response to riots that swept the country last summer was "entirely appropriate", according to a Commons report published today.

- Hannah Al-Othman

MPs examined claims that the unrest was policed more strongly than previous protests but concluded these accusations of "two-tier policing" were "baseless".

The riots broke out after three girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July in Southport, Merseyside.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January for the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and the attempted murders of 10 other adults and children.

The report from the Commons home affairs committee said the claims made against police officers were disgraceful. "This was not protest," the MPs said. "Those participating in disorder were not policed more strongly because of their supposed political views but because they were throwing missiles, assaulting police officers and committing arson.

"It was disgraceful to see the police officers who bore the brunt of this violence being undermined by baseless claims of 'two-tier policing'."