Many children took part in last summer's riots in UK for ‘thrill’: Report

Many children took part in last summer's riots in UK for ‘thrill’: Report

147 children arrested by September 2024; 84 charged, 73 had finalized outcomes, says children's commissioner

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Many children who joined far-right riots in the UK last year were driven by curiosity or the thrill of the moment while some described "a deep distrust" of the police, a report by the children's commissioner for England showed Tuesday.

In her report focusing on children’s involvement in the 2024 riots, Dame Rachel de Souza said what emerged from the conversations she had with the young people themselves was "striking," and often "unsettling."

Far-right riots broke out across the UK following the stabbing attack by Axel Rudakubana in Southport on July 29 last year.

The violence was fueled by false online claims that the suspect, who is a British citizen born in Cardiff, Wales, was a Muslim asylum seeker.

"Many children described making a split-second decision, their involvement being largely spontaneous and unconsidered, driven by curiosity or the thrill of the moment to see what was going on in their community," de Souza said.

However, many children spoke "strongly about their hatred of the police," describing previous bad experiences and community mistrust, the commissioner added.

She said that although online misinformation, racism or other right-wing influences played a role, they did not drive the children’s actions.


- 'Children are left unheard'

The commissioner said that 147 children were arrested by Sep. 4, 2024, 84 were charged, and 73 had finalized outcomes as of Oct. 31 last year.

Pointing to media coverage of the key factors behind children's involvement, de Souza said that children are left unheard and overlooked behind these headlines.

"This report, and indeed my role of listening to these children, does not excuse criminality,” she said, pointing out that enormous harm was caused by these children’s actions, with physical violence toward victims, properties and livelihoods.

She said that the charges and sentences passed down to these children have been, in comparison to other young offenders facing similar circumstances, "unusually severe and swift."

Her report also touched on the importance of improving the lives of children in England, as she noted that these children wanted the government to address poverty and provide more opportunities.

The report came a week after Rudakubana pleaded guilty to the murders of three children – six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.

On Thursday, he was sentenced to 52 years in prison as he "planned to kill as many as he could," in addition to murdering three children in over 15 minutes.


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