As Britain’s new Labour government looks to clamp down on those engaging in violent riots across the country, reports have revealed how children as young as 12 are being arrested for engaging in violent unrest or encouraging others to do so.
British District Judge Joanne Hirst said this week that a 12-year-old boy, the youngest known rioter in the country, was caught by authorities handing out rocks to other protesters outside of a hotel in Rotherham, Yorkshire. The hotel was being used to house asylum seekers who arrived in the country over the English Channel and was the center of a violent protest on July 31. The 12-year-old boy reportedly stood assisted with the unrest, handing out stands and standing in front of a commuter bus, attacking the vehicle as it tried to drive past.
Just three days later, the same boy was seen at another protest in Manchester, England, throwing objects at the police and engaging in looting with other protesters.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Liverpool Youth Court in Merseyside – the same region of England where the Southport stabbing that initiated the riots took place. The boy pled guilty to violent disorder on July 30, making him the youngest person to be convicted for taking part in the riots currently engulfing Britain’s major cities.
So far, more than 50 police officers have been injured in the riots.
Over 1,000 People Arrested
In response to the arrests, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised that he would establish a “standing army” of police officers ready to tackle rioters. Starmer also worked with the nation’s judicial system to establish weekend courts that would prosecute those involved with the riots.
As of August 13, authorities confirmed that more than 1,000 people have been arrested for taking part in the riots, with charges ranging from arson and looting to rioting and inciting violence. Some have also been sentenced for engaging in racist attacks, according to the National Police Chief’s Council.
