The announcement comes after far-right rioters targeted mosques, asylum seeker accommodations, immigration centers, and people of color in over a dozen towns and cities
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the creation of a new national program aimed at addressing violent disorder. The initiative, known as the National Violent Disorder Programme, seeks to unite the best policing resources from across the UK to share intelligence and swiftly intervene against violent groups.
The announcement comes after far-right rioters targeted mosques, asylum seeker accommodations, immigration centers, and people of color in over a dozen towns and cities. In response, the government is determined to prevent further unrest by enhancing police capabilities.
“We will establish a national capability across police forces to tackle violent disorder. These thugs are mobile, they move from community to community, and we must have a policing response that can do the same,” said Starmer. The program will focus on shared intelligence, wider deployment of facial-recognition technology, and preventive measures such as criminal behavior orders to restrict the movements of individuals before they can cause harm.
A government press release provided additional details, explaining that “local insight and data” will be utilized to gain a comprehensive understanding of how far-right organizers operate. This effort includes collaboration with the British Transport Police, who will monitor train ticket sales for potential spikes linked to organized violence.
The program also plans to expand the use of facial-recognition technology, which is already in use by some police forces. The goal is to quickly identify and apprehend individuals involved in criminal activities. Additionally, “surge teams” will be deployed to support police forces in areas where intelligence suggests that violence may occur.
“Communities have a right to feel safe without deliberate organized violence or thuggery in our streets. Criminals need to face the full force of the law, and today we made clear that the police have our strong support in keeping the streets safe,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
However, the announcement has sparked concerns among civil society groups and privacy advocates. Silkie Carlo, director of the privacy group Big Brother Watch, criticized the increased use of facial-recognition technology, calling it “alarming.” She warned that the technology could harm rather than protect democracy.
“This AI surveillance turns members of the public into walking ID cards, is dangerously inaccurate and has no explicit legal basis in the UK,” said Carlo. “To promise the country ineffective AI surveillance in these circumstances was frankly tone-deaf and will give the public absolutely no confidence that this government has the competence or conviction to get tough on the causes of these crimes and protect the public.”
In response to the announcement, Big Brother Watch, Netpol, and 28 other civil society organizations have signed a letter to Prime Minister Starmer expressing their “serious concerns” over the use of facial-recognition surveillance. They argue that while it is important to uphold the rule of law during times of crisis, the use of live facial recognition for public surveillance is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
“We join you in condemning the racist, violent, and disorderly scenes across the country. However, to rush in the use of technology which has a seriously negative bearing on our rights and freedoms would not only fail to address the causes of this dangerous violence but set a chilling precedent,” the letter stated.
As the UK government moves forward with the National Violent Disorder Programme, the debate over balancing public safety and civil liberties is likely to continue.