A Labour councillor has been charged with encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed calling for anti-immigration protesters’ throats to be “cut” in London on Wednesday.
Ricky Jones, 57, was arrested on Thursday after the video was widely shared on social media. He has been the elected councillor for Dartford in Kent since 2019, although he has now been suspended by the Labour Party.
Jones was expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon to enter a plea.
Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for north London, said, “Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday August 7 during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protesters.”
Narwal added: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
In reference to the video, a Labour spokesperson said, “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.”
Counter-demonstrations were organised on Wednesday after apparently fake news circulated saying that anti-immigration protests would be held in a number of towns and cities across the country, leading to a heavy police presence.
When the counter-demonstrators, who described themselves variously as “anti-fascists” or sometimes as concerned citizens wanting to demonstrate solidarity with immigrants and refugees, arrived at the locations, they were met with thin air as no protests were taking place.
On Friday, a government minister urged counter-demonstrators to stay at home as well as anti-immigration protesters, owing to the “strain” being placed on police resources.
Asked about Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly urging Labour MPs not to promote any counter-demonstrations, Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds said it was important to make a “distinction” between “violent thuggery” and peaceful protesting.
“But I think what the home secretary is entirely right about [is the strain police officers] are under, the hours that they are working. I certainly don’t think it helps politicians encouraging even more people out on our streets,” he told Sky News.
On Friday afternoon, some of those who either took part in the disorder or incited violence through posts they made online were given lengthy prison sentences on camera broadcast live. Those given jail time include men from both the anti-immigration and the counter-demonstration camps.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that social networks are “not a law-free zone” and that the government will need to “look more broadly at social media.”
Fast-tracked criminal justice has been handed out to those involved in the disorder, which broke out after fake news was spread online about the identity of the alleged murderer of three girls following a horrific attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
Police later charged teenager Axel Rudakubana, a British citizen born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in the July 29 attack.
