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We will be shortly bringing this live page to a close – but before we go, here’s a round-up of some of the key developments from today.

• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has told the House of Commons that the disorder seen this summer was not a protest, but "thuggery, racism and crime" and says thousands more community officers will be put on the streets
• Lucy Connolly – wife of Conservative Councillor Raymond Connolly- has pleaded guilty to publishing a social media post which stirred up racial hatred against asylum seekers. She'll be sentenced next month, and was told she faces a "substantial" jail sentence by the judge
• The first person to be charged with riot after disorder in Sunderland - a 15-year-old-boy- has had his case moved to Crown Court, that hearing will take place either later this month or early October

• The sentencing of a 12-year-old boy for violent disorder had to be postponed as his mother is on holiday in Ibiza. The judge said she was "frankly astonished" and requested the mother’s presence at the new hearing date on 11 September
• And the sentencing of a 15-year-old boy who admitted stealing from Lush and Greggs during riots in Hull has also been postponed - he'll now be sentenced on 26 September

Today's page was brought to you by Aoife Walsh, Imogen James, Soifa Ferreira Santos, Ben Hatton and Jamie Whitehead.

Outlining the government's next steps, Cooper says they will take forward "positive policing reform" to improve the police's co-ordination infrastructure .

She says she has asked His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue to work quickly with others to review the lessons from the summer's events to ensure strong co-ordination, intelligence systems are in place and there is sufficient public order policing for the future.

She also describes her party's plans to put "thousands more" community police on the streets, and says she has ordered a review of extremism.

The government will strengthen the requirements for social media companies to take responsibility for the "poison" on their platforms with the roll out of measures in the Online Safety Act, she adds.

She ends by saying the "minority of criminals and thugs" who caused havoc do not represent the country, and praises the positive response of communities.

Cooper says violent and criminal acts seen on the streets earlier in the summer were not protests but "thuggery, racism and crime".

Plenty of people across the country have strong views about crime, policing, immigration, asylum, the NHS and other things, she says, but they don't attack the police, loot or "set buildings alight knowing that other human beings are inside" - her voice growing more animated as she speaks.

No one should make excuses for such behaviour, she says.

Over 40,000 officer shifts were worked by public order officers in 10 days, she says, adding around 1,280 people have now been arrested, around 800 charges made, and over 570 people have been brought before the courts.

She says the "robust and swift response" of the government and criminal justice system provided a deterrent.

The home secretary is now addressing the House of Commons on the unrest seen across the country in July and August.

Stay with us and we'll keep you updated on what she says.

Two more men have been charged by Staffordshire Police as part of an ongoing investigation into violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.

James Watkins, 35, of Stoke-on-Trent, has been charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

He has been remanded in custody until 11 September when he is due to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Marcus Ramsden, 22, of Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, has been charged with violent disorder and common assault of an emergency worker.

He has also been remanded in custody ahead of an expected appearance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 9 September.

Staffordshire Police says it has now arrested 64 people and charged 25 as part of its investigation into disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August and in Tamworth on 4 August.

A 15-year-old boy from Sunderland has had his riot case sent to Newcastle Crown Court.

He was the first person to be charged with riot following the recent widespread disorder.

The boy has not entered a plea to the riot charge, but earlier admitted to a charge of violent disorder and burglary of a vape shop in Sunderland on 2 August.

The offence of riot can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, will now appear at the Crown Court alongside adults also charged with riot on either 13 September or 1 October.

The teenager was remanded into local authority accommodation ahead of the next hearing.

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

The maximum sentence for incitement to racial hatred is seven years – and official sentencing guidelines say the most serious cases should typically lead to between two and six years in jail.

But come October’s hearing in Birmingham, the sentencing judge will go through quite a complex exercise to decide Connolly’s level of “culpability”.

If the judge concludes that she intended to incite serious violence, she would be in the highest category of offenders. That would mean a starting point for the calculation of at least three years.

The judge will then consider the “harm” caused by her message to “set fire” to hotels. If the judge concludes it endangered life, that would only reinforce the seriousness.

The Crown Prosecution Service says Connolly posted racist messages months before the Southport attacks, as well as after. This is also likely to be a key factor.

The judge will then reduce whatever sentence they provisionally have in mind to take into account Connolly’s admission.

It’s worth bearing in mind what happened to Tyler Kay who reposted Connolly’s words.

The 26-year-old Northampton man received 38 months - and he pleaded guilty as soon as he could, thereby receiving the maximum one third discount.

Given his crime would not have occurred had it not been for Connnolly’s words, and Connolly did not plead guilty at her first hearing, it is hard to see how she could receive a shorter term than him.

However, there may be something exceptional in her personal consequences that, when presented to the court by her lawyer, requires a degree of judicial mercy.

Three more men have been charged in relation to violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

• Sean Beech, 55, of Len Cox Walk, Manchester, has been charged with violent disorder, attempted section 18 assault and section 39 assault - he was remanded in custody to appear in court today
• Connah Piggott, 25, of Landsdown Road, Broughton, was charged with violent disorder and will appear in court later this week
• Anthony Buck, 52, of no fixed abode, was charged with violent disorder and was remanded to appear in court on Thursday

This brings the total number of people charged in the area to 56, according to Merseyside police, external.

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We can bring you some reaction now from Raymond Connolly, the Conservative councillor whose wife Lucy pleaded guilty to publishing a social media post stirring up racial hatred earlier today.

Speaking outside court, Raymond Connolly says the last few weeks have been "quite traumatic" for his wife and children, and he now feels "kind of relieved".

Connolly says his wife regrets making the post, which she deleted within two hours, and that she is "the opposite" of a racist.

She was an "upset housewife" posting about what transpired to be misinformation about the Southport stabbings, he says.

Connolly, a Conservative councillor in Northamptonshire, says he has received support from residents asking him not to resign and from fellow councillors, adding "it's not affected my role".

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The home secretary will make a statement to the House of Commons later today on the government's response to the disorder seen in July and August.

It's the first opportunity Yvette Cooper has had to address MPs and take their questions on the issue as today is the Commons' first day back after the summer recess.

The exact timing is not yet confirmed as it depends on the duration of earlier business in the Commons, but we're currently expecting the statement to begin around 17:15 BST.

We've been bringing you the latest from the courts today as more people are sentenced for their roles in recent disorder.

Unrest broke out following a knife attack in Southport on 29 July, where three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening so far today:

• Lucy Connolly - the wife of a Conservative councillor - has pleaded guilty to publishing a social media post which stirred up racial hatred. She'll be sentenced next month, the judge told her she faces a "substantial" jail sentence
• The sentencing of a 12-year-old boy, who was in court over two separate incidents, had to be postponed as his mother has gone to Ibiza. The judge said she was "frankly astonished" that this had happened
• The sentencing of a 15-year-old boy has also been postponed, he pleaded guilty to stealing from Lush and Greggs during riots in Hull - he'll now be sentenced on 26 September
• And in Southport, which was the first place to see disorder following the attack, a "walk of unity" organised by faith leaders and politicians has taken place in a show of solidarity against hatred

Stay with us and we'll keep you updated throughout the afternoon.

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Away from the courts, faith leaders and politicians in Southport have participated in a 'walk of unity' in a show of solidarity against hatred.

Organisers said they wanted to bring the community together after the violent disorder which followed the attack on 29 July.

The walk started at 12:00 BST at the mosque on Sussex Road, with participants heading through town, concluding with a meal at a synagogue.

It is being backed by Strengthening Faith Institutions, Together, The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Faiths Forum for London and the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation.

Organisers said the event served as a reminder that amid tragedy, the community in Southport was committed to creating a lasting legacy of connection across divides and to show it stood against hate and division.

Raymond Connolly, a Conservative councillor in West Northamptonshire, watched from the public gallery in court as his wife, Lucy Connolly, pleaded guilty to publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred.

Connolly, a 41-year-old childminder of Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, entered her guilty plea via a video-link from Peterborough prison.

Connolly spoke only to enter her plea and confirm that she could hear the judge during the hearing, which lasted seven minutes.

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Judge Adrienne Lucking KC told Lucy Connolly she's likely to be sent to jail when she is sentenced next month.

The judge said the case was being transferred from Northampton to Birmingham to avoid any potential appearance of bias given Connolly's husband held a political post in the local area.

Judge Lucking said: "Sentencing will entirely be a matter for the judge on the next occasion but it's likely to be a substantial custodial sentence.

"In the meantime, you are remanded in custody."

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has just released a statement after Lucy Connolly admitted inciting racial hatred.

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter terrorism unit, says: “During police interview Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them.

"It is not an offence to have strong or differing political views, but it is an offence to incite racial hatred – and that is what Connolly has admitted doing.

"The prosecution case included evidence which showed that racist tweets were sent out from Mrs Connolly’s X account both in the weeks and months before the Southport attacks – as well as in the days after.

"Connolly wrongly thought that she could escape justice by hiding behind a screen, but today she has pleaded guilty and admitted her crime. She will now face the consequences of her actions."

She will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 October.

Image source, X

Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor, has pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court to publishing a social media post which stirred up racial hatred.

The 41-year old called for mass deportations and attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers in a post on X on the day three girls were killed in Southport.

"Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bas***** for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it," the post read.

As we reported earlier, a 15-year-old boy who admitted stealing from Lush and Greggs during riots in Hull was expected to be sentenced today.

His sentencing has now been moved to Thursday, 26 September.

The teenager – who can't be named due to his age – has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two counts of burglary.

We can bring you more detail now from our last post about a judge in Manchester's decision to adjourn the sentencing of a 12-year-old boy after his mother flew to Ibiza.

District Judge Hirst was told the boy's mother was not present, having gone on holiday on Sunday and due to return to the UK on Thursday.

The boy, who was accompanied by his uncle, had earlier admitted to being part of a group that gathered on 31 July outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Newton Heath.

The judge thanked the boy's uncle for accompanying his nephew to court in his mother's absence, but added: "One day before the hearing we find out the mum has gone on holiday and is not with her son who played a greater part in the recent civil disorder than any adult or child I've seen coming through these courts.

"...I will require a full explanation from mum on her decision to go on holiday one day before her 12-year-old son comes to court facing a potential custodial sentence.

"This is a serious situation, it has now deteriorated in my view because of the actions of the mother. She is on notice, I will be challenging her about this decision."

Addressing the boy directly, the judge told him: "Boys like you need their mums in their lives. I need your mum here."

The sentencing of a 12-year-old who admitted to participating in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester last month has been adjourned because his mother has gone on holiday to Ibiza, a court heard.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told Manchester Magistrates' Court she was "frankly astonished" that the boy's mother had decided to fly abroad for a five-day sunshine break.

Judge Hirst adjourned sentencing of the boy for two counts of violent disorder and ordered a parental summons so the mother must appear before the court when she passes sentence on September 11.

The boy cannot be identified due to his age.

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

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The prison population in England and Wales has hit a record high in the wake of last month’s disorder.

There are 88,350 people in jails - a rise of 998 in just a month - according to data released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on Friday. This takes the prison population to its the highest level since weekly figures were first published in 2011.

Confirmation of the sharp rise comes 10 days before the start of an emergency early release scheme for some prisoners, which is being implemented to ease overcrowding.

The scheme begins on 10 September as a means of freeing up around 5,500 beds to hold newly-sentenced criminals.

Some of those places are expected to be rapidly taken up by people who have been charged or convicted of offences related to recent rioting.

Figures from the National Police Chiefs' Council show that almost 500 of the 1,280 people arrested since that disorder have not been charged or sent to court yet. The body said on Friday morning that forces had identified “hundreds more suspects” on top of those already arrested

You can read more on this here.