In the wake of right-wing conservatives’ heated calls to round up, jail and otherwise disenfranchise Britain’s Afro-Caribbean community for what was clearly the multi-ethnic looting and violence comprising last weeks UK riots, Metropolitan Police have released the photos of two white men who used Facebook to incite riots during the upheaval. Jordan Blackshaw, 20, from Cheshire and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, from Warrington, were imprisoned after setting up Facebook pages calling for unrest in their home towns. Blackshaw’s Facebook page, “Smash Down Northwich Town”, encouraged people to gather “behind maccies” in Northwich town centre last Tuesday, while Sutcliffe-Keenan’s page, “Let’s Have a Riot in Latchford”, called for people to riot Wednesday past.
Residents and businesses reported the posts to police and the men were arrested before any disorder occurred, resulting in each received a sentence of 4 years for their conduct. “The sentences passed down today recognise how technology can be abused to incite criminal activity and sends a strong message to potential troublemakers,” Phil Thompson, Cheshire Police Assistant Chief Constable, said.
More than 1,300 people have been charged across England in connection with last week’s unrest, which led to widespread looting and damage. Five deaths have been linked to the violence.