Latest news with #AxelRudakabana
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Disinformation could still spread under suspect ethnicity guidance says minister
Disinformation could still spread under suspect ethnicity guidance says minister Police forces have been told to share suspects' ethnicity and nationality with the public (Image: Liverpool Echo) Disinformation could still spread around suspects arrested under new guidance for police, a minister has said. Police forces have been told to share suspects' ethnicity and nationality with the public after authorities were accused of covering up offences carried out by asylum seekers, and in the wake of riots following the Southport murders which were partly fuelled by social media disinformation. The interim guidance by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing comes after mounting pressure on police over the details they make public. Asked on BBC Breakfast whether not revealing nationality and ethnicity until a suspect is charged, rather than when they are arrested, means disinformation could still spread in the community as it did following Axel Rudakabana's murders in Southport, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson agreed. "(Disinformation) is a bigger problem for society, I think, but in terms of particular individuals, what normally happens is at charge, information is released," Dame Diana said. "That's what's happened before." The new guidance says forces should consider disclosing the extra details about suspects charged in particularly high-profile and sensitive investigations. But decisions on whether to release such information will remain with forces themselves, the NPCC said. It is hoped the change could combat the spread of misinformation on social media, after Merseyside Police was criticised for not revealing the ethnicity of Rudakabana when he was arrested on suspicion of murder when he attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July. Within hours of the attack, posts spread on the internet which claimed the suspect was a 17-year-old asylum seeker, who had come to the country by boat last year. In the first press conference after the event, at 6.30pm that day, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told journalists the suspect was originally from Cardiff. But the police statement did little to quell the misinformation spreading online, and the next day riots began across the country. In a separate incident in May, to suppress rumours that an incident involving a car being ploughed into a crowd of people during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade was a terror attack, the force promptly revealed the ethnicity and nationality of a man they had arrested, who was white and British. Dame Diana said: "We were very supportive of being as open and as transparent as possible and this interim guidance will set out that on charge, usually name and addresses are given. "We also, in most cases, will want to see nationality or ethnicity given as well. This goes back to last year and what happened, that appalling atrocity in Southport." She said the Government has asked the Law Commission to look into the guidance to make sure any future trial is not prejudiced by information released by police. Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: "We saw during last summer's disorder, as well as in several recent high-profile cases, what the major, real-world consequences can be from what information police release into the public domain. "We have to make sure our processes are fit for purpose in an age of social media speculation and where information can travel incredibly quickly across a wide range of channels. "Disinformation and incorrect narratives can take hold in a vacuum. It is good police work for us to fill this vacuum with the facts about issues of wider public interest." Earlier this month, Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe pressed the Home Secretary for an urgent update on the issue after the charging of two men – reported to be Afghan asylum seekers – prompted accusations that the force withheld information about their immigration status. The force denied a "cover-up" after being criticised by Reform UK. Asked if information about a suspect's asylum status will be shared in new guidance, Dame Diana said: "To date, it's not something that the Home Office comment on in terms of asylum applications that are made by individuals." The new guidance, which comes into force immediately, was welcomed by police and crime commissioners. Emily Spurrell of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said: "I am pleased the NPCC and College of Policing have recognised the need to update guidance for forces in the light of recent high-profile cases. Article continues below "PCCs and Deputy Mayors act on behalf of the public and it is clear there was a need to review the guidance to address growing public concern. "We have seen the speed with which mis- or disinformation can spread online and the danger to public safety that can cause, so it is right police keep the public informed as far as is possible whilst preserving a suspect's right to a fair trial."
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Police to release ethnicity and nationality of suspects
The guidance comes in the wake of riots following the Southport murders which were partly fuelled by social media disinformation. The interim guidance by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing comes after mounting pressure on police over the details they make public. Asked on BBC Breakfast whether not revealing nationality and ethnicity until a suspect is charged, rather than when they are arrested, means disinformation could still spread in the community as it did following Axel Rudakabana's murders in Southport, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson agreed. READ MORE: Fire crews tackle huge blaze at derelict hotel in Scottish city '(Disinformation) is a bigger problem for society, I think, but in terms of particular individuals, what normally happens is at charge, information is released,' Dame Diana said. 'That's what's happened before.' The new guidance says forces should consider disclosing the extra details about suspects charged in particularly high-profile and sensitive investigations. But decisions on whether to release such information will remain with forces themselves, the NPCC said. It is hoped the change could combat the spread of misinformation on social media, after Merseyside Police was criticised for not revealing the ethnicity of Rudakabana when he was arrested on suspicion of murder when he attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July. Within hours of the attack, posts spread on the internet which claimed the suspect was a 17-year-old asylum seeker, who had come to the country by boat last year. In the first press conference after the event, at 6.30pm that day, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told journalists the suspect was originally from Cardiff. But the police statement did little to quell the misinformation spreading online, and the next day riots began across the country. In a separate incident in May, to suppress rumours that an incident involving a car being ploughed into a crowd of people during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade was a terror attack, the force promptly revealed the ethnicity and nationality of a man they had arrested, who was white and British. Dame Diana said: 'We were very supportive of being as open and as transparent as possible and this interim guidance will set out that on charge, usually name and addresses are given. 'We also, in most cases, will want to see nationality or ethnicity given as well. This goes back to last year and what happened, that appalling atrocity in Southport.' She said the Government has asked the Law Commission to look into the guidance to make sure any future trial is not prejudiced by information released by police. Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: 'We saw during last summer's disorder, as well as in several recent high-profile cases, what the major, real-world consequences can be from what information police release into the public domain. 'We have to make sure our processes are fit for purpose in an age of social media speculation and where information can travel incredibly quickly across a wide range of channels. 'Disinformation and incorrect narratives can take hold in a vacuum. It is good police work for us to fill this vacuum with the facts about issues of wider public interest.' Earlier this month, Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe pressed the Home Secretary for an urgent update on the issue after the charging of two men – reported to be Afghan asylum seekers – prompted accusations that the force withheld information about their immigration status. The force denied a 'cover-up' after being criticised by Reform UK. Asked if information about a suspect's asylum status will be shared in new guidance, Dame Diana said: 'To date, it's not something that the Home Office comment on in terms of asylum applications that are made by individuals.' The new guidance, which comes into force immediately, was welcomed by police and crime commissioners. READ MORE: Seamus Logan: We need new bold independence strategy instead of focusing on the past Emily Spurrell of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said: 'I am pleased the NPCC and College of Policing have recognised the need to update guidance for forces in the light of recent high-profile cases. 'PCCs and Deputy Mayors act on behalf of the public and it is clear there was a need to review the guidance to address growing public concern. 'We have seen the speed with which mis- or disinformation can spread online and the danger to public safety that can cause, so it is right police keep the public informed as far as is possible whilst preserving a suspect's right to a fair trial.'
Channel 4
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
Prevent missed chance to work with Southport killer, says review
The counter-terrorism programme 'Prevent' needs to rapidly adapt to the online world where so much radicalisation takes place, and focus on the individual, rather than the ideology, according to an independent review. The scheme missed an opportunity to work with the Southport killer Axel Rudakabana, after teachers referred him to Prevent because of his obsession with violence. He was rejected by the programme three times. The Prevent scheme also missed chances to protect the public from the attacker who assassinated the MP Sir David Amess.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ban under-16s from social media, says public
A majority of the public supports banning under-16s from social media platforms such as X and Instagram, a poll has found. A survey of 2,016 adults by the More in Common think tank showed that 75 per cent wanted the minimum age for accessing social media sites to be raised from 13 to 16. It comes amid renewed pressure on tech giants over concerns about the impact of their platforms on young people, and follows the revelation that Axel Rudakabana, the Southport killer, viewed a graphic video on X before killing three girls in a knife attack. Last year, the Government refused to rule out raising the age limit unless social media companies stepped up efforts to protect children. Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, has spoken to legislators in Australia about their plans to ban under-16s, indicating that a similar ban could be 'on the table' in the UK. Last week, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said social media was exposing youngsters to inappropriate content and that smartphones should 'ideally' not be used until the age of 16. There is support for banning under-16s from social media across the political spectrum, including by 79 per cent of Conservative voters and 81 per cent of Reform UK supporters. Three in four Labour voters, as well as 76 per cent of Liberal Democrat backers, would favour such a move. Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, said: 'Support for raising the age at which young people can use social media to 16 is pretty much as close to a slam dunk as you can get in public opinion popularity terms. 'This is a Government that desperately needs public opinion and policy wins – and raising the age of access to social media would be one of them.' The polling, carried out between Jan 17 and 20, also found that 71 per cent of adults wanted a ban on all smartphones in school. Just 14 per cent opposed the idea. The Conservatives will try to force the Government to introduce a ban on smartphone use in schools through its education Bill. Tabling an amendment to the Bill last week, Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said phones and social media were 'damaging our children's education'. Seventy-two per cent said social media had a negative impact on young people, with only 14 per cent saying its effect on children and teenagers was positive. Seventy-five per cent would back a licensing scheme for 'child-friendly' smartphones, designed to protect users from addictive content, and 79 per cent would support Ofcom, the regulator, being given new powers stopping children from accessing apps that were 'addictive by design'. Anna McShane, director of The New Britain Project, he think tank that led the research, said: 'Very few issues unite the public like this. People don't trust social media platforms to regulate themselves, and they want their government to act. It would be a brave government that ignored these calls. 'At a time when the Government has put so much stock in technology transforming Britain's prospects, social media threatens to toxify the whole sector.' Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, called for 'deep-seated reform of the way social media is regulated', saying: 'This research makes clear that there is a strong appetite to safeguard children, and their health, across the political spectrum.' In 2017, Molly Russell took her own life aged 14 after viewing harmful content on social media sites. On Tuesday, her parents warned that a 'bonfire' of safety measures by Meta had made its Facebook and Instagram channels just as dangerous as when Molly ended her life. Meta insisted there was 'no change' to how it defined and treated content encouraging eating disorders or suicide, but campaigners have been dismayed by plans to scale back moderation efforts. The debate about online harms has also been reignited by the sentencing of Rudakubana. The Southport killer, who was 17 when he murdered three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, watched a video of an Islamist knife attack on X minutes before the massacre. He was also able to illegally download an al-Qaeda manual, prompting Mr Kyle and Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to tell tech giants they must be more proactive in tackling extreme content.
