UK home secretary condemns politicians for undermining police during violent disorders

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday criticized senior politicians for their "shameful behaviour" in undermining the police during recent violent disorders across the country.

In a strongly-worded article published in the Telegraph, Cooper emphasized the need to restore respect for law enforcement, condemning those who have questioned the legitimacy and authority of the police at a time when public support is crucial.

In an implicit critique aimed at the leadership of Reform UK, Cooper stated that she would not partake in the actions of those who sought to diminish the role of the police, particularly during a period of heightened tension and violence.

She stressed the importance of standing with law enforcement to ensure public order is maintained.

"These attacks on local communities and indeed on the police have been a disgraceful assault on the rule of law itself," Cooper wrote. "Those who try to suggest that this violence is about protest and grievance are making excuses for criminals and thugs."

Cooper highlighted that while many people across Britain hold strong views on issues such as law and order, immigration, and the NHS, they do not resort to violence.

"Lots of people across Britain have strong views on law and order, immigration, and the NHS," she continued. "But they don’t pick up bricks and throw them at the police, loot shops or wreck cars, attack people because of the color of their skin, or set light to buildings knowing people are inside."

The home secretary also took aim at politicians who have been promoting the idea of "two-tier policing," a concept that suggests different levels of policing depending on social status or location.

Cooper argued that such rhetoric only serves to weaken the public's trust in the police at a time when they need it most.

"We will work with the police, rather than just blaming them from afar, to tackle problems and raise standards," Cooper asserted. "And we won’t engage in the kind of shameful behavior we have seen from some senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police, just at the time they needed our full backing to restore order to the streets."

Cooper concluded her article by stressing the importance of rebuilding trust within communities, emphasizing that respect for the police, the law, and one another should be the foundation for moving forward after the recent turmoil.

"There is lots of rebuilding to be done in our communities after the damage of the last fortnight. Respect for the police, respect for the law, and respect for each other is where we must start," she wrote.