Liverpool Irish Festival is proud to represent a diverse range of communities, coming from multiple protected characteristic backgrounds. This crosses nationalities, ethnicities, class and faith, as well as many other intersectional characteristics.
First posted: 09:59am, 2 Aug 2024.
Southport, Merseyside UK
What we’ve seen happen in Southport over the last few days is deeply saddening and a concern for all of us.
We appreciate that the loss of three young lives has been devastating and cannot imagine what their families must be feeling in the aftermath. Nevertheless, additional violence will not help them to grieve nor to recover what they have lost. Whilst people seek answers to questions they have, and the police carry out their duties, we ask people to remain respectful and to seek truth, not spread disinformation or deepen the divides between peoples.
Extremism of any nature will only add intolerance, unhappiness and anger to an already stoked fire.
Please be mindful of the misinformation that is being spread and who that is really harming. Anyone calling for action on any community or system of belief is likely to be flawed. We ask you to think twice about what you share and actions you take. Consider who is your message for, who will it help and what action will it create? Haven’t we had enough of attacks?
What do we know?
Three children were killed in an attack at a Southport dance school on Monday 29 July 2024. They were: Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9), Bebe King (6) and Elsie Dot Stancombe (7). In total, a further eight people were injured including Leanne Lucas and John Haynes, both employees of the school. The attacker was a British-born teenager, who we will not name based on his age. There was no connection with Southport Mosque, but racial hatred from far-right extremists took over a vigil intended for those harmed in Monday’s attacks. This involved police injuries, 27 hospitalisations and considerable damage to the mosque. Such bigoted violence is intolerable and deeply disrespectful to those grieving. These actions steal from communities, via the cost of defence, the clean up and the instability and distrust it causes.
The Festival strongly condemns the violent actions taken against Southport Mosque. We are better together, our friendship being valued at more than the sum of our parts. Our Festival team thank all those that lifted hands to assist with putting right the damage made by the insurgent action of the far-right activists.
The Liverpool Irish Festival sends our deepest condolences to all those affected in both attacks.
31 Oct 2024: Message sent to Culture and Arts Investment Programme organisations by Liverpool City Council
Dear colleague,
You will be aware that on Tuesday Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, the man charged with the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar and the attempted murders of ten other people has now also been charged with two further offences.
Yesterday, he appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court for charges made under the Biological Weapons Act and the Terrorism Act. These charges were made following extensive investigations by Merseyside Police and close work with the Crown Prosecution Service.
As we saw in the summer, racism, Islamaphobia and misinformation spreading, and spreading online in particular, can result in actions which have a devastating effect on our communities.
There are rumours circulating that the Police have not been open and transparent. This is not the case. As with any situation such as this there is a need to preserve the integrity of the investigation and the court proceedings.
We want to reassure you of our commitment to working together to prevent August’s scenes of unrest happening again. Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and our wider partners continue to work together to support our communities, making sure that everyone can live freely and safely in Liverpool and the wider region.
We have no intelligence at this time to suggest that there are any local issues. But partners across the region are monitoring the situation.
If you are aware of any misinformation about or related to these recent developments or have any concerns please contact the Police via the portal – https://www.merseyside.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ – or speak to someone you trust in the council.
The fact that, to date, Merseyside Police have made 130 arrests, charged 97 people and secured 78 sentences totalling 164 years, with investigations continuing, should send the message that the violent, racist disorder seen in August has no place in our communities.
As we have shown time and time again we are at our strongest when we stand together. Thank you for your continued support to our communities.
Best wishes,
Chief Superintendent Zoe Thornton, Head of Local Policing City, Merseyside Police
Jo Richmond, Director for Safer City and Communities, Liverpool City Council.
5 August 2024 additional statement
The Festival, as a member of the Culture Network LCR CIC and signatory to the region’s arts and culture sector Race Equality Manifesto condemns the violence against communities and support services over the last weekend.
Violence cannot build tolerance. It has no place in our city. Robbing people of their confidence, demeaning our communities with hate and stealing services from people that have fought hard to make provision is immoral. Using people’s vulnerability— whatever that is — against them is bullying.
If you’re perpetrating these crimes: stop it; if you’re supporting these crimes: stop it; if you’ve seen these crimes: report it. Let’s end this, for good.
If you would like to support Spellow Lane Library, a target of the County Road atrocities, you can do so here.
Assistance
- For anyone needing support, there is 24/7 assistance available from Victim Support.
- The Anthony Walker Foundation runs additional services.
- Asylum services are available from Migrant Help.
- If you need advice on talking to a child about witnessing a violent crime, or explaining what has happened, there is a guide here: LINK.
For people looking for up to date news from Liverpool City Council, this link may be of use. Those in the culture sector may wish to keep an eye on Uncover Liverpool, who will also be doing their best to cover updates. Liverpool Youth Leaders call for a city-wide Peace Commission, read more here. The Runneymede Trust have also released an impressive statement, with actions they have taken in defence of marginalised communities, as well as a film produced to tackle the political needs of the current situation.
16 Aug 2024: LCVS have provided a list of support agencies and services our there to assist individuals or organisations with responses to the recent riots. To access it, use this link.
29 Aug 2024: Director of Public Health message from Professor Matthew Ashton:
In response to the recent events, [Liverpool City Region’s Department of Public Health] have produced community wellbeing toolkits to help residents, services users and staff. The information is part of the Liverpool Kind to Your Mind website, featuring on the difficult or traumatic events page.
We know that everyone reacts differently to tough or traumatic experiences. Seeing or hearing about conflict or violence can be really upsetting, and for some, it can be pretty overwhelming. The website and toolkit remind us that there are times when it’s ok to not be ok, provides advice and guidance on ways to start feeling better, when and how to get support if needed and how to support someone you may be worried about. In Liverpool we have a dedicated Reach Out campaign for anyone facing crisis or concerned about someone else.
The Kind to your Mind messages and resources are for all Liverpool organisations and partners to use, with resources in English and translated into other languages. We have also attached a new user guide to enable your organisation to be part of and help promote this campaign.
Culture Network LCR CIC statement: 5 Aug 2024
The Culture Network LCR CIC stands in solidarity with all communities affected by the recent riots. We condemn the violence. Racism and hatred have no place in our society, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable cultural environment where everyone feels valued and respected. The tragic events in Southport should not be used to incite hate and racism. Our hearts and thoughts are still very much with the grieving families in our region.
Merseyside Police stakeholder briefing
The Merseyside Police issued a stakeholder briefing letter by email to colleagues at 8.30pm, Tue 6 Aug 2024. You can download it as a PDF, here. An additional press release details13 arrests is viewable here.
People may also be pleased to see Runnymede, teamed with a number of organisations, writing an open letter to Kier Starmer on the need for a change in the political rhetoric and response to the growing fear (shared 5 Aug 2024).
Arts Council England public statement
issued on 7 August and shared with arts organisations across the country, on 8 August, this is the Arts Council‘s public statement. Arts Council England are the national funder for arts organisations in England, sitting between the DCMS and government.
9 Aug 2024, Police update
S.34 Dispersal Zone
A section 34 Dispersal Zone covering an area that includes Liverpool City Centre has been authorised by police from 16.00 hrs on 8 Aug until 15.59 hrs on Sat 10 Aug 2024.
Under a section 34 notice, police officers have extra powers to deal with anyone taking part in anti-social behaviour in the defined areas highlighted in the attached map. Police officers can instruct and advise anyone who is causing, or is very likely to cause harassment, alarm, and distress to leave the area immediately.
S60/S60AA Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
A section 60/S60A order has been authorised by Police for an area that includes Liverpool City Centre has been authorised from 14:35hrs on 8 Aug until 14:34 on Fri 9 Aug 2024.
The authority gives officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals and request the removal of face coverings used to conceal a persons’ identity in the defined areas highlighted in the attached map. The authorisation relates to a person of any gender and ethnicity with an apparent age range between 14yrs and 70yrs.
Additional police officers are also deployed to the city centre this evening to provide support and reassurance to the community.