Summer 2024 disorder

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 12 Nov 2024 Closed: 9 Dec 2025 Parliament page
Disorder took place in several UK cities between 30 July and 7 August 2024, following the violent events in Southport on 29 July. The Government has reported that over 40,000 additional officer shifts were worked by public order officers over the course of ten days, with 6,600 officers deployed on … Read more
8 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
3 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
3 Jul
2025
Report published
23 Apr
2025
Correspondence
14 Apr
2025
Report published
25 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2025
Correspondence
25 Feb
2025
Correspondence
25 Feb
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
10 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
25 Feb 2025
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Andrew Johnson · Home Office Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist · Metropolitan Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington · National Police Chiefs' Council Chief Constable Serena Kennedy · Merseyside Police Emily Spurrell · Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP · Home Office
10 Dec 2024
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Chris Noble · Staffordshire Police Judi Heaton · Humberside Police Lauren Poultney · South Yorkshire Police Mark Webster · Cleveland Police
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report – Police response to the 2024 summer disorder HC 381 14 Apr 2025 21 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
21 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Protests in July-August 2024 escalated into widespread violent disorder.
We received no evidence to dispute the characterisation of violent disorder between 30 July and 7 August 2024. Many events held during this period began as protests and remained as such. But while some instances of disorder may have originated … Read more
Government Response
The government details the CPS's specific actions to review and update the Media Protocol, including a public consultation launched in January 2025 and an intention to publish the revised guidance in autumn 2025, alongside supporting proposals for law reform on contempt.
Home Office
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Inadequate contempt of court laws and CPS guidance fail social media era communication needs.
Merseyside Police were put in a very difficult position given legal restrictions on communicating the identity of the Southport suspect and the need to withhold certain information in order to protect the trial. The inconsistent advice from the CPS over … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is carefully considering recommendations from both the Inspectorate and the Committee, committing to publish a Police Reform White Paper that will outline its intentions to address findings, strengthen public order policing, and enhance the response to violent disorder.
Home Office
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3 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Publish the CPS's new media protocol promptly and ensure shared understanding with partners.
Notwithstanding potential changes to contempt of court laws, we recommend that the CPS publish its new media protocol as soon as possible and keep this updated at least every five years or earlier if there is a significant change 33 … Read more
Government Response
The government response discusses the Home Office's ongoing use of open-source material and plans to strengthen this capability, noting that specific proposals and financial investment are still under consideration and decisions have not yet been taken. It does not address the recommendation regarding the CPS publishing a new media protocol.
Home Office
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4 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Police forces were unprepared for high levels of violence during last summer's disorder.
The levels of violence seen across the country last summer were the worst since 2011. Police officers worked tirelessly to respond to the disorder and it was only through their efforts that more serious injury and property damage was prevented. … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the police have reviewed the national mobilisation plan, which now specifically describes a national public order gold role with explicit authority for national mobilisation numbers and strategy, and this plan has been agreed and circulated amongst forces. The government will reflect on these changes for the Police System Reform White Paper.
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5 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Publish government's formal response to HMICFRS review on supporting police force implementation.
We recommend that the Government publishes a formal response, after the second tranche of the HMICFRS review is published, setting out how it will support police forces to implement the findings of the review, including any additional funding if required, … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its ambition to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) with a new strategy to be published later this year, and has announced £13.1 million for a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection. It also mentions a forthcoming police reform White Paper but does not commit to a formal response to the HMICFRS review findings with details on funding and timeframe for implementation as requested.
Home Office
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6 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Insufficient national support for policing social media intelligence monitoring, especially on closed platforms.
Individual police forces did their best to monitor social media ahead of and during the disorder as a source of intelligence. It is important that forces retain local capacity to monitor social media on a business-as-usual basis. However, it is … Read more
Government Response
The government response outlines plans for workforce reforms and officer retention as part of the forthcoming Police Reform White Paper, citing low resignation rates and initiatives like the NPCC National Leavers Framework. It does not address the recommendation for enhanced national and local capacity for social media monitoring in policing.
Home Office
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7 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Enhance national policing system's capacity to monitor social media and support local forces.
The new national system for policing should include enhanced capacity to monitor and respond to social media at the national level, while also supporting forces to develop the necessary capacity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)
Government Response
The government states that the Home Secretary has provided £28.3 million in funding to police forces to cover the additional costs of policing past disorder, paid in full in May 2025. This response does not address the recommendation for enhanced national capacity to monitor and respond to social media.
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8 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Inconsistencies and problems persist in the provision and handling of police mutual aid.
While we heard of several instances of mutual aid being quickly and effectively provided, there were also some problems in its provision, and inconsistencies in the way mutual aid requests were handled. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35) 34
Government Response
The government details funding for the neighbourhood policing programme, committing £376.8 million to maintain officer numbers in 2025-26 and increase the neighbourhood policing workforce, with future decisions to be set out in the upcoming Spending Review. This response does not address the issues raised concerning inconsistencies in mutual aid provision.
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9 Recommendation Acknowledged
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Set out government's plan to improve police mutual aid provision in response to HMICFRS.
As part of a formal response to the HMICFRS reports the Government should set out in particular how it is supporting forces to improve the provision of mutual aid, including how changes to the national policing system will support mutual … Read more
Government Response
The government states that a forthcoming Home Office White Paper on police reform will cover various issues including how the policing system can work better. However, it does not specifically commit to setting out how it will support forces to improve mutual aid or how a new national policing system will specifically support mutual aid, as part of a formal response to the HMICFRS reports.
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10 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
National policing structures inhibited disorder response and created business-as-usual deficiencies.
We agree that despite the best efforts of policing leaders, shortcomings in national policing structures inhibited the response to the disorder and national mobilisation came too late. The disorder highlighted deficiencies that also affect business-as-usual policing, such as a lack … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges limitations in policing systems and states that an upcoming Home Office White Paper on police reform will cover issues including technology, the future workforce, and system improvements, thereby deferring specific actions.
Home Office
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11 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Set ambitious, long-term proposals for reforming the policing system and addressing crime.
Given the importance of the Government’s ambitions on crime and policing, including halving knife crime and halving Violence Against Women and Girls, and the significant challenges facing the policing system, we encourage the Government to be ambitious in setting out … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has an unprecedented objective to halve VAWG in a decade, underpinned by a new Strategy and a White Paper on policing reform, demonstrating an ambitious, long-term approach. It also highlights £13.1 million funding for a National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection.
Home Office
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12 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Disorder incidents had detrimental effect on police officers already facing heavy workloads and stress.
Police officers worked for long hours in extremely difficult circumstances during disorder incidents, many of them suffering injury and other trauma. Those that were re-deployed but did not face significant disorder will still have experienced fatigue and an increased workload. … Read more
Government Response
The Home Secretary has provided police forces in England and Wales with £28.3 million of funding to cover all of the additional costs of policing the disorder.
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13 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Outline a comprehensive strategy to improve police officer retention alongside recruitment efforts.
The Government should outline a comprehensive strategy forpolice officer retention alongside its recruitment efforts. (Recommendation, Paragraph 47)
Government Response
The government states that workforce reforms, including activities to support police officer retention, will be developed as part of the forthcoming Police Reform White Paper. It also highlights existing College of Policing guidance and the NPCC National Leavers Framework.
Home Office
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14 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Delays in releasing special grant funding for disorder costs significantly impact police forces.
The costs incurred by police forces during the course of the disorder look modest in the context of overall policing budgets, but these unexpected costs have nonetheless had a significant impact and are being disproportionately borne by certain forces. We … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that £28.3 million in funding to cover the additional costs of policing the disorder was paid in full to police forces in May 2025, addressing the committee's concerns about delays.
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15 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Release funding to police forces to cover disorder costs incurred as soon as possible.
If it has not done so already the Government should release funding to cover costs incurred during the disorder as soon as possible. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming that the Home Secretary agreed to provide £28.3 million to cover additional policing costs during the disorder, which was paid in full in May 2025.
Home Office
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16 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Numerical recruitment targets for neighbourhood policing risk cheap hires and lack of experienced officers.
We commend the efforts of police forces to maintain business-as- usual policing, particularly the importance attached to maintaining neighbourhood policing. Nonetheless, the disorder and subsequent investigations have had a knock-on impact on other areas of policing, including neighbourhood policing. The … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its neighbourhood policing programme for 2025/26, committing £376.8 million to maintain officer numbers and stating that workforce mix decisions are local but forces are expected to deliver suitably. It does not explicitly address the concern about ensuring the 'right mix' of experienced officers or avoiding hiring cheaply.
Home Office
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17 Recommendation Accepted in Part
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Benchmark Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee recruitment plans to ensure minimum officer numbers or flexible funding.
The Government should benchmark recruitment plans under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to ensure that, while flexibility for forces to recruit is maintained, minimum numbers for the recruitment of police officers can be set by the Home Office if required, or … Read more
Government Response
The government provides £376.8 million, with £270.1 million ringfenced, for forces to maintain officer numbers in 2025-26, and expects an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce. It does not commit to Home Office-set minimum recruitment numbers, maintaining local flexibility.
Home Office
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18 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
National policing system needs greater resilience to respond to emergencies without significant government intervention.
The Government’s approach to working with police forces during the disorder was clearly seen as appropriate by the police leaders involved, who welcomed the level of support and challenge they received. The assurances that the Government provided helped to ensure … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the limitations of current policing systems and states that the Home Office’s upcoming White Paper on police reform will cover issues relevant to creating a more effective and resilient national policing system, deferring specific actions.
Home Office
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19 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Ensure policing reforms empower the national system to respond to emergencies without significant government intervention.
The Government should ensure that its policing reforms empower the national policing system to respond effectively to emergency situations, without requiring significant Government intervention. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63) 36
Government Response
The government acknowledges the limitations of current systems and states that an upcoming Home Office White Paper on police reform will cover issues relevant to enabling an effective national policing system, deferring specific actions to this future document.
Home Office
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20 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – Police response to th…
Long-term policy alignment between Home Office and MoJ crucial for broader crime reduction ambitions.
The joint working, supported by the Government, between the police and the criminal justice system was essential in bringing about swift justice to the perpetrators of the disorder. This helped to prevent further disorder. However, we agree with the Policing … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its actions to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), its policing reform and Joint Police Reform Team and states that effective policing requires collaboration, shared priorities, and targeted support.
Home Office
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21 Conclusion
2nd Report – Police response to th…
No evidence of 'two-tier policing' suppressing peaceful protest last summer.
The right to protest is fundamental in our democracy and we would take seriously any evidence that peaceful protest was being suppressed based on the political views expressed. However, we have seen no evidence that this was the case during … Read more
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 20 of 8 classified
Accepted 7
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 9
Total 8 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
23 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the Committee’s report on the Police response to the 2024 summer disorder 11.04.2025
Parliament page
25 Feb 2025 To committee Letter from the Crown Prosecution Service on the Process and guidance around publication of prosecution information 21.02.2025
Parliament page
25 Feb 2025 From committee Letter to the Crown Proseution Service on the Process and guidance around publication of prosecution information 04.02.2025
Parliament page