Solicitors and advice agencies specialising in immigration and asylum law have been named as potential targets for coordinated attacks by agitators behind the ongoing riots
Earlier this week, a Telegram channel with more than 12,000 members listed locations of 39 legal advice centres, urging members to ‘mask up’ and gather at a specified time.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: ‘We have serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our members.
‘I have written to the prime minister, Lord Chancellor and home secretary today asking that the threats against the legal profession are treated with the utmost seriousness. We are supporting our members who are being targeted.’
Emmerson urged the government to ensure the ‘necessary support and resources are provided for both prosecution and defence lawyers, courts staff and judiciary in dealing with this emergency’.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since violence flared across England and Northern Ireland at the end of last week. Speaking after a Cobra meeting on Monday, the prime minister’s spokesperson confirmed there were enough prison places for rioters to be held on remand and suggested courts could sit for longer hours to dispense swift justice. However, criminal lawyers could resist such a proposal.
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