ohOn Thursday I met with the Prime Minister at a mosque in Solihull. We met with members of defiant communities who have also been living in fear for the past week. I know their fears because I have felt the same fears. I know what it feels like to worry about your family and friends, to feel unsafe in your own community because of your identity or the colour of your skin.
To those who took part in last week’s disgraceful violence, this Government’s message is clear: if you break the law, you will face the severe consequences.
Police worked tirelessly to restore order to our city in the face of brutal violence, with over 100 injured in the line of duty. We are grateful to them, and their bravery will never be forgotten.
As Lord Chancellor and Minister for Justice, I am responsible for the criminal justice system’s response and have worked closely with partners across the system, including the prosecutors who stand by across the country to swiftly prosecute these thugs and hooligans.
One of these is the independence of the judiciary, which ensures swift and true justice. Within a week, we have seen criminals sentenced to years in prison. Many more will follow where they have served their sentences. Currently, over 100 people are being held in detention centres, awaiting trial and sentencing.
At times like these, justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done. We must show that every action has a reaction. Crime must lead unto punishment.
The swiftness of the courts was essential in this. The judge handed down his sentence within days of the arrest. He even chose to broadcast the sentencing remarks live from Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday and Leeds Crown Court on Friday. I wholeheartedly welcome this decision. They are teaching a lesson to those who would again be tempted to violence. Justice will find you. You will feel the full force of the law.
The Ministry of Justice acted quickly to secure prison cells to accommodate all those being detained by the courts. Staff worked around the clock to secure more than 500 prison places ahead of schedule.
Our justice system has proven it can rise to this challenge, and if further crime and disorder follows, we will continue to deliver justice until the last criminal languishes in prison.
But let us not be mistaken: this challenge is made much harder within the justice system we inherited from the Conservatives.
Their failure has left us with a record backlog of criminal cases, prisons nearing capacity and forcing us to release inmates whose sentences don’t involve serious violent or sexual offenses weeks or months early.
The day-to-day effects of this disruption will be felt for months and years to come, making the task of rebuilding our justice system that much harder.
These cases also serve as a reminder of how much worse things could have been had the government not acted quickly just a few weeks ago to address the crisis in the criminal justice system before it was too late.
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The scale of the challenge we face must not weaken our resolve. In the dark moments of the past few days, I have been heartened by the many moments across this country that have revealed the true character of our Britain.
Some stomp on division, others seek to ease tensions. Some seek to destroy, others rebuild what has been destroyed. I think in particular of the traumatised townspeople of Southport, who, after the far-right thugs who attacked their town had fled, came forward and rebuilt the walls of their local mosque, just hours after it had been vandalised, using the same bricks that had been thrown into its windows.
On Thursday in Solihull, the Prime Minister and I heard stories of horror, but we also found hope in the resilience of the people who came to speak to us. As we begin to address the enormous challenges facing our country, not just within the justice system, that is the inspiration I choose after these tumultuous, dark days have passed.
Until then, if anyone forgets, the message from this government and across our criminal justice system is clear: If you incite terror or participate in violence, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Justice will be served.
Shabana Mahmood, MP main Prime Minister and Secretary of State justice
