I entirely condemn the criminal disorder and attacks on Police, other people and properties that have taken place in recent days.

The appalling and sickening murders in Southport were evil criminality in their own right which I am sure will rightly receive the strongest punishment.

Those murders don’t in any way provide a justification for attacks on either the Police or anyone else who had no connection with the Southport murders.

I have also spoken with police locally about an isolated incident on Friday night which is being investigated.

Any protest that seeks to intimidate anyone- police, asylum seekers, faith groups or anyone else is not protest but criminal behaviour and I am glad that the Home Secretary has made it clear that courts and Police will ensure that anyone guilty of criminal behaviour will be prosecuted regardless of who they are. Those who invite violence must also be pursued.

I urge everyone, including politicians of all parties to promote calm and seek to unite rather than divide at this perilous time.