Nearly 200 officers in Suffolk and Norfolk read to address ‘unacceptable violence and disorder’ protests, says police boss

Nearly 200 officers are ready across Suffolk and Norfolk to address ‘unacceptable violence and disorder’ in protests elsewhere in the country, a police boss has said.

The officers are part of eight Public Service Units available across both counties to assist other forces. These are made up of 23 specially trained officers, including an inspector and three sergeants, and are a requirement across England and Wales.

Over the past few days, multiple violent protests and riots have sparked up across the UK after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport.

The trigger for the violent protests was widespread misinformation about the suspect.

The protests led to an emergency meeting being held by new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after which he pledged a ‘standing army’ of 6,000 public order officers would be at the ready, alongside the creation of 500 new prison places.

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said 29 Public Service Units were made available across the country but these had not involved any of Suffolk’s own.

He said: “There is no intelligence to suggest any forthcoming difficulties at the time of writing in Suffolk, which is good news.

“I hope this situation endures because this kind of totally unacceptable violence and disorder will not be tolerated in any circumstance.”