The Telegraph newspaper reported Saturday that UK courts will operate for 24 hours to expedite prosecutions of those involved in a number of riots that have ravaged several UK cities. This measure follows urgent meetings between senior ministers and judiciary members aimed at promptly addressing the violence through severe legal ramifications.
In a statement on the riots seen across the UK, Prime Minister Kier Starmer said on August 1, “Let me be clear: the tiny, mindless minority in our society who provoked violent disorder on our streets will be made to face the full force of the law.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told JURIST on Sunday:
When a sudden and unforeseen surge in criminal activity occurs due to a major incident or series of events, the Additional Courts Protocol can be activated, subject to the agreement and guidance of the independent judiciary. This protocol, established following the 2011 riots, clarifies