Cleverly backs police to do what is necessary to keep public order

Speaking at today’s plenary session of the London Assembly, called to examine the August riots, Bexley and Bromley’s London Assembly member said the police would have his full support in using "robust enforcement" to preserve the peace should there be further threats of public disorder.

Mr Cleverly said:

“The police need to know that they have our full support when they take the action they deem necessary to keep public order. The police have received mixed-messages over their public-order policing and this has to stop. We have seen what happens when the mob believes the police are not going to respond robustly: conditions of near-anarchy break out.

“This must never be allowed to happen again. We have seen the snarl of full scale lawlessness and we must give the police the powers, confidence and support to do whatever is needed to make sure it never bares its teeth again.”