Crime

Far-Right influence suspected as violent protests erupt across UK

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2024

TWO consecutive nights of violent protests in English towns have highlighted how today’s far-right factions are mobilising within the UK. The unrest follows a knife attack by Cardiff-born teenager in Southport, which has sparked significant activity both on mainstream social media and within smaller public groups.

An analysis of this activity reveals a clear pattern: influencers are driving the call for protests, yet there is no single organising entity. Many protest attendees and online commentators do not hold extremist views or support rioting, nor do they have direct ties to far-right groups. Concerns about violent crime and misinformation linking the attack to illegal immigration have drawn in a diverse array of people.

**A police van on fire in Southport (Image: Sky News)**

The initial protests began in Southport and rapidly spread to London, Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot. Merseyside Police have identified the English Defence League (EDL) as a significant influence in these events. Although the EDL no longer exists in a formal sense following the departure of its founder, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson), its core ideas—particularly opposition to illegal immigration and racist claims about Muslims—persist and are actively propagated online.

Conspiracy theories suggesting that “elites” are concealing the truth, including alleged abuses of British children, have further fuelled the unrest. “Lord Simon,” an influencer associated with Yaxley-Lennon, was among the first to call for nationwide protests, spreading false claims that the alleged Southport attacker was a recently arrived asylum seeker. His video has been viewed over a million times.

***Southport murder accused has been named named as Axel Rudakubana (Image: BBC Newshub)***

The BBC’s analysis of hundreds of social media posts and Telegram groups has shed light on the motives of those organising and participating in the protests. While it is challenging to pinpoint who initiated the protest calls, a clear pattern emerged: multiple influencers within various circles amplified false claims about the attacker’s identity, which then spread across platforms, reaching a broad audience.

***A police burns in Hartlepool (Image: PA)***

“There’s not been a single driving force,” says Joe Mulhall, head of research at Hope Not Hate, an anti-racism research group. “There are large numbers of people engaging in activity online but there’s no membership structure or badge—there are not even formalised leaders, but they are directed by social media influencers. It’s like a school of fish rather than a traditional organisation.”

One of the earliest signs of brewing protests appeared in a Southport-themed group on Telegram, created about six hours after the attack. Telegram, often used by far-right activists to avoid bans on other platforms, became flooded with misinformation about the attacker’s identity and calls for a protest on St Luke’s Street in Southport, home to the local mosque.

***Axel Rudakubana is brought to court in Liverpool (Image: Sky News)***

Graphics promoting the protest migrated from Telegram to TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, where they gained significant traction. Messages encouraging demonstrators to hide their identities from the police also circulated widely.

Far-right activists saw an opportunity in the Southport tragedy to amplify their messages on major social media platforms. Matthew Hankinson, a former National Action member, documented the Southport demonstration live on X, describing police actions as “oppression of peaceful protesters.” His videos, viewed thousands of times, have been used to justify extreme violence and spread racist material.

Yaxley-Lennon, who left the UK on Sunday ahead of a major court hearing, has been pivotal in spreading unrest. His X account, restored last year, boasts 800,000 followers. His posts about the Southport tragedy and related disorder have been widely shared.

Prominent supporters like Rikki Doolan and Jesse Clarke have been identified in video footage of the Southport protests, furthering the unrest. Smaller groups, including Patriotic Alternative, have also promoted the protests, using the slogan “Enough is Enough,” which has gained significant attention on X.

According to Mulhall, the language and organisation of these protests are highly organic, with local Facebook groups playing a crucial role in disseminating information from influencers.

The future remains uncertain, with at least 30 additional demonstrations planned across the UK. Some social media posts directly reference the Southport attack, while others focus on broader fears of illegal migration and child protection.

The recent protests underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of far-right mobilisation in the UK. As authorities continue to monitor the situation, the interplay between online influence and on-the-ground action presents a significant challenge for maintaining public order and addressing misinformation.

Crime

Swansea man dies weeks after release from troubled HMP Parc: Investigation launched

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man has died just weeks after being released from HMP Parc, the Bridgend prison now at the centre of a national crisis over inmate deaths and post-release failures.

Darren Thomas, aged 52, died on 13 November 2025 — less than a month after leaving custody. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has confirmed an independent investigation into his death, which is currently listed as “in progress”.

Born on 9 April 1973, Mr Thomas had been under post-release supervision following a period at HMP/YOI Parc, the G4S-run prison that recorded seventeen deaths in custody in 2024 — the highest in the UK.

His last known legal appearance was at Swansea Crown Court in October 2024, where he stood trial accused of making a threatening phone call and two counts of criminal damage. During the hearing, reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald at the time, the court heard he made threats during a heated call on 5 October 2023.

Mr Thomas denied the allegations but was found guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to a custodial term, which led to his imprisonment at HMP Parc.

Parc: A prison in breakdown

HMP Parc has faced sustained criticism throughout 2024 and 2025. A damning unannounced inspection in January found:

Severe self-harm incidents up 190%
Violence against staff up 109%
Synthetic drugs “easily accessible” across wings
Overcrowding at 108% capacity

In the first three months of 2024 alone, ten men died at Parc — part of a wider cluster of twenty PPO-investigated deaths since 2022. Six occurred within three weeks, all linked to synthetic drug use.

Leaked staff messages in 2025 exposed a culture of indifference, including one officer writing: “Let’s push him to go tomorrow so we can drop him.”

Six G4S employees have been arrested since 2023 in connection with alleged assaults and misconduct.

The danger after release

Deaths shortly after release from custody are a growing national concern. Ministry of Justice data shows 620 people died while under community supervision in 2024–2025, with 62 deaths occurring within 14 days of release.

Short sentences — common at Parc — leave little time for effective rehabilitation or release planning. Homelessness, loss of drug tolerance and untreated mental-health conditions create a high-risk environment for those newly released.

The PPO investigates all such deaths to determine whether prisons or probation failed in their duties. Reports often take 6–12 months and can lead to recommendations.

A system at breaking point

The crisis at Parc reflects wider failures across UK prisons and probation. A July 2025 House of Lords report described the service as “not fit for purpose”. More than 500 people die in custody annually, with campaigners warning that private prisons such as Parc prioritise cost-cutting over care.

The PPO investigation into the death of Darren Thomas continues.

Crime

Woman stabbed partner in Haverfordwest before handing herself in

Published

5 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Court Reporter

A WOMAN who stabbed her partner during a drug-fuelled episode walked straight into Haverfordwest Police Station and told officers what she had done, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Amy Woolston, 22, of Dartmouth Street in Milford Haven, arrived at the station at around 8:00pm on June 13 and said: “I stabbed my ex-partner earlier… he’s alright and he let me walk off,” prosecutor Tom Scapens told the court.

The pair had taken acid together earlier in the day, and Woolston claimed she believed she could feel “stab marks in her back” before the incident.

Police find victim with four wounds

Officers went to the victim’s home to check on him. He was not there at first, but returned shortly afterwards. He appeared sober and told police: “Just a couple of things,” before pointing to injuries on his back.

He had three stab or puncture wounds to his back and another to his bicep.

The victim said that when he arrived home from the shop, Woolston was acting “a bit shifty”. After asking if she was alright, she grabbed something from the windowsill — described as either a knife or a shard of glass — and stabbed him.

He told officers he had “had worse from her before”, did not support a prosecution, and refused to go to hospital.

Defendant has long history of violence

Woolston pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. The court heard she had amassed 20 previous convictions from 10 court appearances, including assaults, battery, and offences against emergency workers.

Defending, Dyfed Thomas said Woolston had longstanding mental health problems and had been off medication prescribed for paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
“She’s had a difficult upbringing,” he added, saying she was remorseful and now compliant with treatment.

Woolston was jailed for 12 months, but the court heard she has already served the equivalent time on remand and will be released imminently on a 12-month licence.

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

9 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.