The UK prime minister Keir Starmer is set to visit Northern Ireland on Monday, planning to discuss the recent upheaval with the head of the Northern Irish police. Violence erupted across Northern Ireland in early August, resulting in injuries to over 20 police officers. Unrest spread widely due to anti-immigrant demonstrations, primarily in places such as Belfast and Derry, where law enforcement was attacked with various projectiles, including bricks and petrol bombs. Vehicles were torched and multiple businesses suffered extensive damage. Alongside this, a petrol bomb was launched at a mosque in Newtownards, County Down.
Many arrests were made, leading to charges spanning from inciting riots to committing racially driven hate crimes. Some disturbances even involved children. Mr Starmer is scheduled to land in Belfast on Monday and is anticipated to receive a briefing from Jon Boutcher, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), about the operations related to the recent chaos.
The discussions will also encompass broader policing issues in Northern Ireland. This marks their second collaboration since Starmer’s appointment as prime minister. Mr Boutcher previously pointed out that the PSNI is an exemption, receiving less funding compared to its counterparts in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Lacking in numbers, the PSNI requested assistance from Police Scotland to manage the chaotic situation.
During Starmer’s visit, he is also expected to engage with the local PSNI officers involved in controlling the violent unrest in certain areas of Belfast, as well as meet those delivering aid and support to vulnerable individuals and families in Northern Ireland.