The Guardian

Police unit in England to monitor online signs of anti-migrant disorder

The Telegraph

Elite police squad to monitor anti-migrant posts on social media

Daily Mail

Keir Starmer accused of having an 'obsession with censorship' as it emerges that elite police units will monitor social media posts on migrants for early signs of unrest

Independent

Elite police unit to monitor social media for anti-migrant posts

The Times

Demonstrators clash at Epping hotel as protests spread nationwide

Migrant hotel protests spread nationwide

YouGov

The Most Important Issues Facing the Country YouGov

GOV.UK

The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP

Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety

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hansard.parliament.uk

Hansard Contribution Dame Chi Onwurah

Spectator (UK)

The state will do anything but fix the migrant crisis

Metaculus

Will small boat crossings drop by at least half during the 59th parliament term?

The Sun

More protests held outside migrant hotels across UK as anger over crisis continues to rise

Nigel Farage

Richard Tice

The UK Government

Chris Philp

Lee Anderson

Lucy Moreton

Lee Harris

Patrick Christys

Allison Pearson

Bob Blackman

"Starmer has no intention of stopping the boats."

Starmer's "track record, Labour's track record, the Home Secretary's track record and their actions here in Britain suggest there is no desire, or plan, to actually stop the boats."

"The boats will come, and numbers are likely to continue rising."

Starmer is "on track to smash the record for small boat crossings, with numbers up 44%."

"Labour has no intention of doing this [reducing small boat crossings], and Martin Hewitt is the perfect example of their lack of action."

"It [small boat crossings] is 38% worse than the previous worst year, so things are getting worse, not better."

"It [reduction in small boat crossings] can be done if there's the political will."

"[W]e will stop at nothing to dismantle their [people-smuggling gangs] business models [illegal small boat crossings] and bring them to justice."

Will Labour Reduce Small Boat Crossings in the English Channel?

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Sky News

"The way things are going, just a year in — I genuinely think he will leave. I think he will be forced out."

"Starmer might have to go in months."

"I don't think he will survive a year [as prime minister]."

"Of course [he will be prime minister till 2029]."

How Long Will Keir Starmer Be UK's Prime Minister?

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The U.K. government is establishing a National Internet Intelligence Investigations team to monitor social media for signs of potential civil unrest, drawing detectives from forces across England and Wales to operate from Westminster.

The U.K. government is establishing a National Internet Intelligence Investigations team to monitor social media for signs of potential civil unrest, drawing detectives from forces across England and Wales to operate from Westminster.

Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention Dame Diana Johnson confirmed in a letter to MPs the team will provide national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise local forces on operational decision-making, with funding secured through 2025-26.

Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention Dame Diana Johnson confirmed in a letter to MPs the team will provide national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise local forces on operational decision-making, with funding secured through 2025-26.

A report published in May by the Chief Inspector of the Constabulary found U.K. police were <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/police-failed-to-counter-social-media-lies-in-southport-riots">"ill-equipped" to deal with the influence of online content during civil unrest</a>, with several forces failing to implement previous recommendations between 2011 and 2021 regarding social media monitoring and intelligence gathering.

Justiceinspectorates

A report published in May by the Chief Inspector of the Constabulary found U.K. police were "ill-equipped" to deal with the influence of online content during civil unrest, with several forces failing to implement previous recommendations between 2011 and 2021 regarding social media monitoring and intelligence gathering.

The report found that the "overwhelming speed and volume of online content" helped spread disorder last year after three girls aged between six and nine <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/teen-pleads-guilty-to-triple-murder-at-dance-class">were murdered by Axel Rudakubana</a>, with over 1,800 arrests and nearly 1,100 charges as of January 2025.

Judiciary

Publications

The report found that the "overwhelming speed and volume of online content" helped spread disorder last year after three girls aged between six and nine were murdered by Axel Rudakubana, with over 1,800 arrests and nearly 1,100 charges as of January 2025.

This comes as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/police-escort-prorefugee-protesters-amid-hotel-clashes">recent protests</a> have occurred in Epping, Essex, as well as Canary Wharf, Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and Leeds among others concerning U.K. migration policy.

This comes as recent protests have occurred in Epping, Essex, as well as Canary Wharf, Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and Leeds among others concerning U.K. migration policy.

According to YouGov polling, immigration and asylum is now considered the most important issue facing the country (52%), followed by the economy (50%), health (32%), as well as both crime and defense and security (21% each).

According to YouGov polling, immigration and asylum is now considered the most important issue facing the country (52%), followed by the economy (50%), health (32%), as well as both crime and defense and security (21% each).

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The new unit responds to criticism of police handling during last summer's riots that followed the Southport murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in July, when misinformation spread rapidly online.</span

The new unit responds to criticism of police handling during last summer's riots that followed the Southport murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in July, when misinformation spread rapidly online.

Police inspectors found that forces were overwhelmed by social media content volume during the 2024 unrest and concluded the approach to online intelligence was "disjointed and fragmented" requiring urgent overhaul.</span

Police inspectors found that forces were overwhelmed by social media content volume during the 2024 unrest and concluded the approach to online intelligence was "disjointed and fragmented" requiring urgent overhaul.

Recent protests have occurred in Leeds, Norwich, Nottinghamshire, and outside asylum hotels in Epping, Essex, with demonstrations spreading to multiple locations including Bournemouth over the weekend.</span

Recent protests have occurred in Leeds, Norwich, Nottinghamshire, and outside asylum hotels in Epping, Essex, with demonstrations spreading to multiple locations including Bournemouth over the weekend.

Policing minister Diana Johnson confirmed the team will provide national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise local forces on operational decision-making, with funding secured until 2025-26.</span

Policing minister Diana Johnson confirmed the team will provide national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise local forces on operational decision-making, with funding secured until 2025-26.

The Home Office denied claims that police would monitor social media for anti-migrant sentiment, stating the capability focuses on equipping forces to respond rapidly to community needs and real-time incident information.</span

The Home Office denied claims that police would monitor social media for anti-migrant sentiment, stating the capability focuses on equipping forces to respond rapidly to community needs and real-time incident information.

The social media surveillance unit marks a dangerous shift toward policing opinions and controlling free speech in Britain. Rather than addressing underlying concerns about immigration policy, the government chooses to monitor what citizens post online. This represents authoritarian overreach that prioritizes surveillance over genuine frontline policing solutions.

The social media surveillance unit marks a dangerous shift toward policing opinions and controlling free speech in Britain. Rather than addressing underlying concerns about immigration policy, the government chooses to monitor what citizens post online. This represents authoritarian overreach that prioritizes surveillance over genuine frontline policing solutions.

UK Creates Elite Police Unit to Monitor Social Media for Unrest

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Last year's riots highlight the importance of government monitoring online activity to prevent the spread of violent disorder. Alongside greater regulation and accountability, content must be monitored in real-time so that harmful posts and individuals are identified before it is too late. Government has a responsibility to ensure the physical and digital safety of its citizens.

Last year's riots highlight the importance of government monitoring online activity to prevent the spread of violent disorder. Alongside greater regulation and accountability, content must be monitored in real-time so that harmful posts and individuals are identified before it is too late. Government has a responsibility to ensure the physical and digital safety of its citizens.

Creating elite police units to monitor online activity represents dangerous overreach that criminalizes legitimate concerns. This Orwellian surveillance dismisses genuine grievances about immigration policy as undemocratic activity. Instead of policing thought crimes on social media, the government should instead seek to solve the migration and asylum crisis that has brought Britain to the brink.

Creating elite police units to monitor online activity represents dangerous overreach that criminalizes legitimate concerns. This Orwellian surveillance dismisses genuine grievances about immigration policy as undemocratic activity. Instead of policing thought crimes on social media, the government should instead seek to solve the migration and asylum crisis that has brought Britain to the brink.

National Review

Britain Shut Up The Government Explained

There is a 66% chance that Labour will reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel by at least 50% this parliamentary term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 66% chance that Labour will reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel by at least 50% this parliamentary term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK to Create Police Unit to Monitor Social Media Unrest

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UK to Create Police Unit to Monitor Social Media Unrest

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