Sir Keir Starmer held an emergency press conference at No 10 Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, vowing to take action following the violent disorder that erupted in parts of England in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

The Prime Minister summoned police chiefs to Downing Street to discuss the unrest, which saw scenes of violence in London, Hartlepool, and Manchester overnight. A demonstration in Aldershot also saw a tense stand-off with riot police.

"This is not protest, this is violent disorder and action will be taken," Starmer told the senior officers. "This Government will make sure you have got the powers you need and will back you in using those powers."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood also attended the meeting with at least a dozen police bosses.

Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy told the meeting by videolink that the force is "determined to get justice" for the deadly attack on Monday, and to identify all those who took part in rioting on Tuesday in the seaside town.

In London, more than 100 people were arrested after protesters in Whitehall launched beer cans and glass bottles at police and threw flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.