Sir Keir Starmer has announced he plans to utilise a "standing army" to deal as violent unrest continues to grip the country.

The Prime Minister, who was speaking after convening an emergency Cobra meeting this morning, is facing pressure to recall MPs as Nigel Farage also accused the UK of witnessing "two-tier policing".

Starmer instead claimed incidents witnessed in the previous week were not protest and amounted to violence, adding: "This is not protest - it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities."

Riots started last week after misinformation circulated related to the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside on July 29.

More than 420 people have been arrested since riots began last week, with unrest witnessed in Middlesbrough and Bolton.

Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister said: "There were a number of actions that came out of the meeting. The first is we will have a standing army of specialist officers, public duty officers, so we will have enough to deal with this where we need them.

"The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests. Some of them have appeared in court this morning.

"I've asked for the early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process, who will feel the full force of the law."

Starmer also stressed the criminal law applies to social media users as well as those involved in riots across the country.

Addressing the use of a "standing army", Starmer added: "In relation to the police, I am absolutely clear that we will have the officers we need, where we need them to deal with this disorder.

"That is why the 'standing army has been set up, specialist officers, ready to be deployed to support communities."

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Starmer instead claimed incidents witnessed in the previous week were not protest and amounted to violence, adding: "This is not protest - it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities."

Riots started last week after misinformation circulated related to the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside on July 29.

More than 420 people have been arrested since riots began last week, with unrest witnessed in Middlesbrough and Bolton.

Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister said: "There were a number of actions that came out of the meeting. The first is we will have a standing army of specialist officers, public duty officers, so we will have enough to deal with this where we need them.

"The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests. Some of them have appeared in court this morning.

"I've asked for the early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process, who will feel the full force of the law."

Starmer also stressed the criminal law applies to social media users as well as those involved in riots across the country.

Addressing the use of a "standing army", Starmer added: "In relation to the police, I am absolutely clear that we will have the officers we need, where we need them to deal with this disorder.

"That is why the 'standing army has been set up, specialist officers, ready to be deployed to support communities."