15-Year-Old Charged in Sunderland Riots

A 15-year-old boy has become the first person in England to be charged with riot, following far-right violence in Sunderland that occurred on August 2. The boy had initially admitted to violent disorder, but prosecutors added the more serious charge of riot, which carries up to 10 years in prison. This marks a significant step as the Crown Prosecution Service considers applying riot charges more broadly across the country. Other cases linked to recent unrest include a 20-year-old from Southport jailed for 30 months for throwing bricks at police, and a man in Manchester sentenced to three years for racially motivated violence. Over 1,100 people have been arrested and nearly 650 charged in relation to these riots. The authorities emphasize that participants in the recent violence, regardless of age, will face serious legal consequences.