STATEMENT ON FAITH LEADERS MEETING CONVENED BY SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S MAYOR, OLIVER COPPARD

Published 6 August 2024 at 5:39pm

Today, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, Council Leaders, South Yorkshire Police, faith and community leaders came together to listen to each other and speak with one voice about the violent disorder that took place over the weekend.
 
We are one community and one South Yorkshire and violence and racism will not be tolerated here.
 
We know that some communities will be scared by what they saw here and across the country.
 
Every decent person in South Yorkshire and in the UK will feel just as we do that the violent disorder on display is unacceptable. We also have confidence that the perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
 
This morning, we talked about the actions we can take to keep each other safe, the funding made available by the Home Secretary to give our mosques greater protection, and South Yorkshire Police talked about stepping up patrols and visibility to provide reassurance to communities most at risk.
 
We will continue to work together to keep our diverse and multi-faith communities united in the face of those who try to divide us. That is who we are.