The police have increased patrols ahead of today’s cricket match between India and Pakistan due to the breakout of sectarian violence at past contests.
On Sunday, there will be a “high-visibility police presence” in Leicester during the match, which is taking place in Melbourne, Australia. The game started at 9:00 am BST.
After tensions erupted during matches in August and September, at least 60 Muslim and Hindu community members from Leicester, Birmingham, and London were arrested on a variety of crimes, including public order offenses, racially aggravated assault, and violent disturbance, among others.
During Sunday’s sporting event and the duration of the Diwali celebrations, the Leicester police intend to “ensure all remains calm.” The festivities began on Friday and will conclude tomorrow on Diwali Day.
Diwali is the largest and most significant holiday in India. It features a festival of lights commemorating the triumph of “light over darkness” – or good over evil.
As the Diwali vacation has begun, Leicestershire police have cautioned that there will be a “strong police presence in East Leicester” throughout the weekend and into the next week.
Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon told MailOnline in a news statement, “I’d want to take this opportunity to urge everyone to enjoy the Diwali festivities as they normally would.”
It is a special time for so many individuals in the communities of Leicester, as well as a special time for the city, and the celebrations should proceed.
Monday will see a highly visible police presence in the area to ensure that this is the case. Whoever is contemplating provoking disturbance, please refrain. We shall be present to prevent the outbreak of chaos.
This is also the situation following the Sunday cricket match. We recognize there may be sensitivities surrounding this outcome and will be out on the streets patrolling and reassuring the community.’
Chief Constable Nixon stated, “I would want to take this opportunity to request – once again – that unverified and unchecked information not be shared on social media.” Misinformation has been extremely damaging throughout.
The Leicester police have detained a total of 66 individuals in relation to the over 150 violent events that have occurred between the groups.
The defendants were detained on suspicion of a variety of public order offenses, including assaulting an emergency officer, possession of a Taser, racially aggravated assault, making death threats, violent disorder, affray, conspiracy to instigate violent disorder, and possession of cannabis.
A 17-year-old from Leicester and four men between the ages of 22 and 41 were among the five most recent arrests, all of which occurred within the past two weeks.
The adolescent was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and charged with the crime. The police said the charge stems from a September 6 incident.
A 26-year-old male from Leicester was arrested for disorderly conduct on September 4 and has since been freed pending further investigation.
The other three arrestees, a 41-year-old and two 22-year-old men, were detained on September 18 on suspicion of grievous bodily injury.
The three Birmingham-native suspects have been released on police bail.
The fresh arrests come as police continue to investigate the violent occurrences, including the review of over 6,000 hours of film from body-worn cameras.
‘Exhaustive efforts to investigate the condition are making progress despite obstacles. As expected, the time and care that goes into this task is unremitting,’ said Chief Constable Nixon.
The team of detectives investigating crime reports works around the clock, and additional charges are anticipated.
Images of predominantly masked or hooded individuals, including members of the Hindu and Muslim communities, engaged in tense confrontations and standoffs on the streets of Leicester, a city renowned for its diversity, have horrified the city’s residents.
Last month, Home Secretary Suella Braverman stated that the ‘full force of the law’ would be employed to combat the disturbance and that she was intent on’restoring safety and harmony to the city.’
Ms. Braverman stated in a tweet that she had met with Leicestershire Police officers, Chief Constable Nixon, and community leaders to discuss actions to be taken in response to the turmoil.
“We’ll collaborate on this, and I’ll do everything I can to help our communities and police.” Those who bring disruption and violence to our streets will face the full weight of the law, and I appreciate all the courageous police officers who keep us safe,’ she said.
She added that she had spoken with West Midlands Officers Chief Constable Dave Thompson and will “continue to follow the situation and appreciate the police for their superb management.”
Her remarks came after Leicestershire Police issued a warning about online misinformation and the difficulties it created for the region’s communities.
It was reported that a ‘fake’ message purporting to be from Leicester’s Hindu and Jain communities had been circulated, prompting temples and religious leaders to issue a statement discrediting it.
Claudia Webbe, the independent representative for Leicester East, previously stated that some social media accounts appeared to be “preying on this unease” by “spreading misinformation.”
She wrote to the interim Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police urging vigilance and relaying reports of “incitement to hatred directed at Muslims and Hindus.”
Following a meeting of community leaders, councillors, and local police, the BBC reported that an independent review of the disorder would be conducted.