Courts across the UK have handed down a series of sentences to protesters over the past week, with officials fearing further violence.

In recent days, a number of cases have been brought to trial, with the most severe being three years in prison for vandalism. The moves come after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would crack down on public disorder.

The British government hopes the harsh sentences will prevent further unrest ahead of the Premier League, which many fear could see riots break out as the football frenzy kicks off.

The wave of violence erupted after the murder of three girls at a dance studio in the town of Southport, northwest England on July 29.

Immediately after the incident, a section of the public turned their anger on the Muslim and immigrant communities in the UK due to unverified rumors about the suspect’s identity, and began attacking homes and businesses of Muslims and foreign businesses across the country.

Violence has escalated as agitators continue to spread false information online, or after unverified comments by billionaire Elon Musk on social media platform X.

Despite the more peaceful protests on Wednesday (6 August), Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government was ready for any developments over the weekend, noting that the courts and police were working hard to ensure the work was completed quickly.

In a separate interview with Sky News, Mr Thomas-Symonds advised people not to take part in protests in any form as the police force is under immense pressure.

“We should distinguish between peaceful British protest – which is an important part of our politics – and the violent thuggery we see on our streets,” he added.

Among those arrested so far are children as young as 11. A 15-year-old boy admitted throwing a paving slab at a resident’s head, while a 14-year-old pleaded guilty to shooting fireworks into the crowd.