Author: Vikram Dodd and Mark Wilding

In the months leading up to this summer’s riots, police leaders initially downplayed the threat of violence from far-right protests, focusing instead on other potential public order threats. Despite internal documents showing a shift in priorities, experts argue that the police underestimated the far-right threat. The National Police Chiefs’ Council identified the far right as “cultural nationalists” and noted their focus on asylum seeker accommodation. The riots that ensued were sparked by false claims of crimes committed by immigrants, amplified on social media to incite emotional responses. Hope Not Hate criticized the police for failing to adequately address far-right street…