Following the Southport killings last summer, violence broke out across the UK, with both police officers and mosques being targets.
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00:00Following the Southport killings last summer, violence broke out across the UK with both
00:05police officers and mosques being targets. Disorder spilled out across the country,
00:10including in Liverpool where Yobs smashed up and torched Spello Library in Walton.
00:15A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee assessing the police response to the disruption
00:21that followed has analysed the role of social media in the aftermath of the killings,
00:27as well as the pressure Merseyside Police found itself under to release more information.
00:33The panel has said that there had been several common features in the violent
00:37disorder that sprung up across the country and praised the bravery of officers deployed.
00:42However, the committee rejected any suggestion of two-tier policing throughout the summer.
00:48In their 41-page report, MPs said after the three girls were killed,
00:52the chosen sites of protests, such as asylum hotels, were at best controversial and at worst
00:58an incitement to violence. Much was made of how Merseyside Police responded to the attacks
01:04and what information it could share with the public. Owing to Axel Rudicobarner being under 18
01:10at the time of the murders, the force was unable to publish his identity immediately.
01:15This allowed misinformation to circulate online.
01:18On the evening of July 31st, the Crown Prosecution Service was asked for advice on a press statement
01:24which confirmed the Rudicobarner's religion. Whilst on a national level there were no concerns about
01:30this being released, Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Police Chief Constable, said it was the very clear
01:35view of the local CPS that information on religion should not be included and moreover that this was
01:41because of the impact on the criminal justice process.