Town centre shops close as peaceful protest takes place in St Helens

Following the shocking stabbings in Southport on Monday, July 29, which claimed the lives of three young girls and left more in critical condition, protests have been organised in towns and cities across the country.

Many of these protests have turned violent, including in Southport and Liverpool, and mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers have been attacked in some areas. Police forces have made more than 400 arrests across the country since last Tuesday.

With a protest planned at St Helens Town Hall on Saturday, August 3, shops including the Age UK charity, Natwest Bank, and Milton Diamonds are reported to have closed early on Ormskirk Street due to safety concerns.

Dolliez Bar is also reported to have closed early on Barrow Street, while The Quality Halal Butcher said it would be prepared to close early on Claughton Street if there was any disturbance.

Merseyside Police has confirmed that the St Helens protest, which attracted a few dozen people, was "peaceful without incident".

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Protestors claimed that the country has lost British values (Image: Contributed)
With protestors flying English and British flags outside the closed Town Hall, one of the attendees said on social media that the protest was organised as they want a "safe place for our kids and grandkids".

The protestors also said they do not want anybody entering the country illegally, and claimed that the country has "lost [its] British values".

Following Labour's election victory last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has taken steps to set up a UK Border Security Command, intending to crack down on illegal immigration and boat crossings.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also pledged £84m towards projects to stop illegal migration "at source", with funding for education, employment opportunities, and humanitarian support aiming to address the factors driving people to leave their homes.

Following the Southport attacks, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 attempted murders, and possession of a curved kitchen knife.

The 17-year-old, who was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff and moved to the Southport area in 2013, has no known links to Islam.

Keir Starmer has said that those who have been involved in violent protests will feel the "full force of the law".