An unexpected and particularly shocking aspect of the racist riots that sprung up across dozens of towns and cities in the UK during August was the prominent role that young people played in them.
At the time of going to press, children as young as 12 have been charged with offences including violent disorder and rioting in relation to the spate of anti-immigration protests sparked by the killing of three young girls in the Southport area of Merseyside in late July.
Several of the most violent protests targeted hotels and hostels housing refugees claiming asylum in the UK after far-right groups used social media to spread false information that the Southport victims’ killer had arrived in the UK by an illegal Channel boat crossing. He is in fact a 17-year-old boy who lived locally and was born in Cardiff.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
