'We must not allow social media companies to get away with enabling hateful online content' West Midlands PCC speaks out on disorder in the region

Sir Keir Starmer and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood visited Solihull where he met the region’s Mayor Richard Parker, Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster and faith leaders on Thursday.

They discussed the need to rebuild trust and set out actions to ensure the events of the past few days are not repeated in the future.

And Mr Foster added he was deeply concerned about how quickly misinformation is spread on social media platforms.

A WhasApp message suggested more anti-immigration protests were due to happen across the UK, including Birmingham, on Wednesday evening.

But that protest fizzled out and instead hundreds of people took part in a counter protest in the city centre instead.

Earlier this week, police were called to a ‘mass gathering’ in Solihull town centre, resulting in the forced closure of Touchwood Shopping Centre.

Thugs also attacked police officers and a hotel reportedly housing asylum seekers in Tamworth during the evening of ‘senseless violence.’

On Monday, rumours of a far-right rally transpired to be ‘misinformation’ but sparked a gathering of around 1,000 people coming out to ‘protect their neighbourhood’.

It mostly passed peacefully but pockets of disorder broke out and police are investigating five crimes from the night, including an assault at a pub, violent disorder and criminal damage.

One man, Shehraz Sarwar, of Wright Road, Saltley, has since been charged with possessing an offensive weapon.

Mr Foster, said: “I’m very pleased the Prime Minister came to our region. It shows just how seriously the government is treating the recent disorder and violence.

“I made my message very clear that we must not allow social media companies to get away with enabling hateful online content that can do so much harm and damage.

“These multi-billion pound firms need to know they have a duty to be responsible and must regulate the content on their platforms.”

And Mr Parker said: “At our meeting with the Prime Minister we discussed the work we now need to do to rebuild trust in all communities across the West Midlands and ensure they feel safe and can lead prosperous lives.

“This has left us with a number of actions to take and I look forward to working with our faith groups and our community leaders with a view to preventing a repeat of the incidents we have seen in recent days.”

“I have also spoken to both the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner and given them my full support for the work they are doing to keep our people and our communities safe.

“I will continue to meet with them over the summer to discuss how we are going to work together on an action plan to deliver the best solution for our communities going forward.”

He added: “It was so important that the Prime Minister came here today to set out very clearly to our faith and community leaders the priority that the government is giving to dealing with the terror and aggression we have witnessed on our streets in recent days and how swiftly the criminal justice system has gone into action to punish those responsible.

“Let’s be clear, these weren’t protests, it was criminal activity and disorder on a large scale.

“I’m pleased that the police have taken the action they have. There has been no fear or favour in front of the law.”