Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned that the effects of this week’s riots will reverberate across the country for “months and years.”
In an article for the Observer, Mahmood highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the unrest, emphasizing that more than 500 new prison places have been expedited despite an overcrowding crisis that recently forced the government to release some prisoners early.
Mahmood stated, “Should further criminality and disorder ensue, we will continue to deliver justice until the last offender languishes in one of our jails.” She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the face of the recent violence.
According to reports from the Sunday Times, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering bringing charges of rioting against individuals involved in the most severe disturbances.
Rioting is a severe crime in the UK, carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years for those convicted.
The government’s swift response to the riots, including the creation of additional prison capacity, underscores the severity with which the situation is being handled. As the legal process unfolds, the full scale of the judicial response to the riots will become more apparent, with the possibility of significant prison sentences for those found guilty.
Mahmood’s comments come at a time of heightened public concern following the riots, which have raised questions about the effectiveness of the UK’s prison system and the government’s capacity to manage large-scale public disorder. The long-term impact of the riots on the communities affected, as well as the country’s justice system, remains to be seen. Still, the Justice Secretary has clarified that the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to restore order and hold offenders accountable.
