The King has spoken of his hopes that “mutual respect and understanding” will unite the nation in the wake of the riots following the killing of three young girls in Southport.

The monarch praised the “community spirit” of Britain that has “countered the aggression and criminality from a few”, in a series of conversations with those leading the response.

He is understood to have told Sir Keir Starmer and police chiefs how he has been “greatly encouraged” by the “compassion and resilience of the many” in the face of violence, as he thanked the emergency services for their work in restoring peace.

In telephone calls on Friday evening, the King is said to have spoken of his hopes that “shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation”.

The King is currently based at his home of Birkhall in Scotland, and spoke to Sir Keir, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, the chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and UK Gold Commander Ben Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex.

He is understood to be hoping to visit communities that have been affected in person at a suitable time in the future, when it will not place any additional pressure on security and local services.

The phone calls, the existence of which will be published in the court circular, follow private conversations this week with those working on the response to the riots and those most affected.

A spokesman for the King said: “In addition to the private calls His Majesty has been making throughout the week concerning recent events – and in particular the impact they have had on affected communities – this evening the King held a phone audience with the Prime Minister, and additionally had a joint call with the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, and UK Gold Commander Ben Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex.

“In these calls, His Majesty was updated on the current situation and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services for all they are doing to restore peace in those areas that have been affected by violent disorder.

“Additionally, The King shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many.

“It remains His Majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.”

The King has not yet addressed the nation directly about the violence and unrest that occurred in the wake of the Southport attack, in which three children were killed, but released a written statement saying he was “profoundly shocked” to hear of the “utterly horrific incident”.

“We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack,” he said on July 30.

Britain has seen a wave of disorder, looting and violence since the fatal stabbings in Southport, much of it directed at the police and sparked by false claims about the identity of the attacker.

Sir Keir has reiterated that police should remain on “high alert” going into the weekend amid the ongoing threat of further protests and counter-protests.

So far 741 people have been arrested, of which 302 have already been charged.

Police chiefs have warned that the arrests will continue for months as they continue to scour CCTV and identify more suspects using facial recognition technology.

On Friday more rioters were jailed, including those who had encouraged violence on social media. The Telegraph can reveal that the government is considering forcing big tech companies to ban fake news from their platforms.

The phone call between the King and the Prime Minister was not part of their weekly audience, which usually takes place in person and by convention does not happen over the summer break.

The King had faced criticism from a handful of voices about why he had not yet addressed the nation, including from the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic.

The monarch would not customarily do so while public unrest is ongoing, with the public response being the role of the elected government.

The Royal family has this week continued on a small number of engagements as planned, with what has been called their “familiar rhythm” of official duties thought to have a role in maintaining calm.

This week, the Princess Royal has been at the Olympics and the King made a low-key visit to mark the 150th anniversary of the Sutherland and Caithness railway line at Helmsdale railway station in the Scottish Highlands.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who have not attended the Olympics despite reports they had hoped to do so, also issued a statement about the initial attack.

“As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through,” they said.

The Prince of Wales is likely to be one of the key family members involved in community visits and response, when it is considered to be of practical help.

A British businesswoman accused of being one of the first people to post a fake name for the Southport attacker has said that it has “destroyed” her.

Bernadette Spofforth, 55, wrongly claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that the suspect in the killing of three girls outside a Taylor Swift dance class was an asylum seeker who had recently arrived in the UK by boat.

The false accusation, which was promoted across social media by far-Right accounts and Russian bots, has been blamed for sparking riots which spread across the country.

Mrs Spofforth, who lives in a million-pound farm house near Chester, has denied that she was the first to post the message, saying that she simply made the mistake of repeating it.

She tweeted: “Ali Al-Shakati was the suspect. He was an asylum seeker who came to the UK by boat last year and was on an MI6 watch list.”

She added: “If this is true, then all hell is about to break loose.”

Before she was unmasked, Mrs Spofforth told The Times: “It was a spur-of-the-moment ridiculous thing to do, which has literally destroyed me. It was just a mistake. 

“I did a really stupid, stupid thing, I copied and pasted it from what I saw, and I added the line ‘if this is true’.”

She has since released a statement saying that she is “mortified” that she has been accused of being the source of the misinformation.

“Such a claim is absurd,” she said in a statement to The Sun. “In reality I actually fell into the trap of sharing misinformation – like thousands of others did across social media in the aftermath of the attack.

“The post I shared was pasted from details of a message I’d seen on Twitter, and was caveated by the point it needed further verification.”

She said she would like to “apologise for failing to check the source material and posting in the heat of the moment” but that it was “wholly incorrect to suggest my post was somehow a catalyst for riots”.

Russia-linked website

The false claim was picked up by Russia-linked Channel3 Now, a website that masquerades as a legitimate American news outlet but acts as an “aggregator” for fake viral claims as well as real news stories.

The claim was then boosted by thousands of other Russia-linked accounts before being repeated by Russian state media, which cited Channel3 Now in its reporting.

It was also picked up by far-Right figures such as Tommy Robinson and notorious influencer Andrew Tate, whose posts about “Al-Shakati” garnered millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes.

The violence which ensued led to more than 400 people being arrested. One hundred have charged already. 

Axel Rudakubana, an 18 year-old born in Cardiff, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder over the Southport attack.

‘Woman arrested’

On Thursday, Cheshire police said they had “arrested a woman in relation to social media post containing inaccurate information about the identity of the attacker in the Southport murders”.

A spokesman said: “The 55-year-old woman from near Chester, was arrested… on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and false communications.”

Chief Supt Alison Ross said: “We have all seen the violent disorder that has taken place across the UK over the past week, much of which has been fuelled by malicious and inaccurate communications online.

“It’s a stark reminder of the dangers of posting information on social media platforms without checking the accuracy. It also acts as a warning that we are all accountable for our actions, whether that be online or in person.”

Unrest after Southport: Who has been convicted?

Jordan Parlour

A Facebook user who encouraged people to attack a hotel in Leeds housing asylum seekers was the first person to be jailed for stirring up racial hatred since the recent riots. 

Jordan Parlour, 28, admitted posting about the city’s Britannia Hotel, which was home to 210 refugees and asylum seekers. He wrote on Facebook: “Every man and their dog should be smashing f— out Britannia Hotel.”

Parlour posted the comments after the hotel had been targeted by people throwing missiles and breaking windows – and more attacks happened later.

Guy Kearl KC, the recorder of Leeds, accepted Parlour took no part in the violence but told him: “There can be no doubt you were inciting others to do so, otherwise why post the comments?”

In a letter addressed to Leeds Crown Court, his mother said: “We can only speculate he’s been caught up and swept away by emotions circulating throughout the country.”

Parlour, who was jailed for 20 months on Friday, appeared to blow a raspberry as he was led away.

Tyler Kay

Father of three Tyler Kay was also jailed for stirring up racial hatred after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight on social media. 

Northampton Crown Court heard Kay posted on X, formerly Twitter, calling for mass deportation and advising protesters to “mask up”. 

The 26 year-old shared part of a tweet calling for attacks on asylum seekers originally written by Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor, which included the words “set fire to all the f—— hotels full of the bastards”. 

He was sentenced to 38 months in prison.

Leanne Hodgson

A woman who repeatedly pushed industrial bins at police during riots in Sunderland was jailed. 

Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, deliberately ran into an officer and called another one a “f****** black c***” during the disorder on Friday Aug 2.

After Hodgson was arrested the next day, police learned she had tried to buy a balaclava from the post office earlier.

In mitigation, the court heard Hodgson had “mental health difficulties exacerbated by alcohol problems” and was “ashamed of her actions”. 

She was jailed for two and a half years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jordan Plain

Jordan Plain, who was filmed making monkey gestures and shouting slurs at black and Asian people during rival demonstrations in Leeds, was jailed for eight months on Friday. 

The 30 year-old was also filmed mocking Muslim prayers with others. 

Leeds Crown Court heard he told probation that he was out drinking in Leeds when he came across the demonstration while he was “six-out-of-10 intoxicated”. 

Sarata Sawo, who was at the anti-racism protest, read out a personal impact statement to the court detailing how Plain’s actions left her feeling unwelcome in the city where she has lived all her life.

Kenzie Roughley

Kenzie Roughley was sent to a young offender institution after admitting to attacking a police van during unrest in Rotherham. 

Footage showed the van being rocked from side to side, with its rooftop mast swinging outside the Holiday Inn Express, which housed more than 200 asylum seekers, on Sunday.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how the 18 year-old’s actions had left the Police Community Support Officer inside the van fearing for his life. 

Roughley was sentenced to two years and four months in a young offender institution.

Josh Kellett

A balaclava-wearing rioter identified by his distinctive tattoos was jailed for two and a half years over disturbances in Sunderland. 

Josh Kellett was seen on police drone footage throwing stones at officers four times in 45 seconds. 

The 29 year-old was identified by an anonymous member of the public who watched a live stream of the riot and contacted police to say they recognised a person who was throwing items at police. 

He was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court.

Stacey Vint

A woman who fell over while trying to ram police with a burning wheelie bin during a riot has been jailed. 

Stacey Vint was sentenced to 20 months after pushing the bin into a line of officers. 

The 34 year-old was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court for her part in the riots in Middlesbrough town centre on Aug 4.

Jordan Davies

A man who was seen with a knife near a vigil for the victims of the Southport stabbing was jailed for two years and four months. 

Jordan Davies, 32, from Southport, admitted possession of a knife in a public place in the town on Tuesday July 30.

Davies told officers he was in the town for a “peaceful protest” after he was seen with the knife, wearing a balaclava, by members of the public. 

He was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.

Ozzie Cush

Ozzie Cush, from Reading, was sentenced to 10 months for assaulting an emergency worker in London. 

The 20 year-old kicked a police officer at a demonstration organised by “cultural nationalists” near Trafalgar Square on July 31. 

He claimed his participation was unplanned. 

Alex Granville, defending, said Cush was “a troubled young man” who had been on a day trip to London visiting filming locations used in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Ryan Wheatley

A lawyer defending a rioter who “barrelled” into a police officer while running at counter-protesters claimed his client was simply trying to share his “point of view”. 

Ryan Wheatley, a 40-year-old unemployed grandfather from Hampshire, pleaded guilty to assault after admitting to running into the police sergeant at a demonstration in Southampton on Aug 7.

Barry Keel, defending, told Southampton Crown Court Wheatley “had some agreement with the counter-protesters” and that his client had “wanted to put his point of view that his concern was about illegal immigration rather than immigration per se”. 

He added that Wheatley had left the other protesters because “he was concerned and upset about being called a racist or a Nazi”. 

The court heard that because Wheatley was a “very large male” an officer felt the need to spray him with tear gas as he charged at the counter-protesters. 

The officer said: “Because of the sheer size of him, I felt it was the safest way to control him.”

Wheatley collided with the officer, thereby assaulting him, and having pleaded guilty to this offence was remanded in custody for sentencing next week.

Gareth Metcalfe

A 44 year-old who admitted violent disorder in Southport blew a kiss towards the public gallery as he left the dock. 

Gareth Metcalfe, 44, of Southport, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to the offence on July 30.

Metcalfe, who was remanded in custody, blew a kiss to a couple in the public gallery as he left the dock. 

A man said “love you lad, see you next week” while a woman shouted: “Love you son.” As she left the court, the woman added: “That’s a big relief.” 

The case was adjourned to Tuesday for sentencing.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “It is almost inevitable there will be a substantial immediate sentence of imprisonment.”

David Probert

The father of two who admitted shouting abuse at police officers during disorder was seen kissing his hands, giving a double thumbs-up and saying “love you all” to people sitting in the public gallery. 

Westminster magistrates’ court was told he had an autism diagnosis, was considered a vulnerable person and was known to community mental health teams. 

He was remanded in custody for sentencing as soon as possible.

Daniel Russell and Mark Bowen

The 47-year-old from Redfield, Bristol, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in the city centre on Saturday, as did Mark Bowen, 40, with whom he appeared in court.

District Judge Lynne Matthews described how Bowen told the police: “I didn’t even know what was going on, I don’t have social media, I was just a drunk idiot.”

Both men were remanded in custody for sentencing. Russell was told he would have his “day of reckoning” at the crown court next week, the judge said.

A manhunt has been launched for a patient who is a risk to women after he absconded from a care facility while on escorted leave.

Balasankar Narayanan, 44, was last seen at 6.40pm on Aug 4 when he ran away from his carers while visiting a north London park.

It is understood to be the fourth time he has absconded.

The Metropolitan Police warned that Narayanan can be violent and is considered a danger to women. He is said to have links to areas of London including Newham, Greenford, Hammersmith, Highgate and Ilford, as well as the West Midlands.

Members of the public have been told not to approach him.

A spokesman for the force said: “Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a man who absconded while on escorted leave from a care facility in Ilford.

“While our investigation to locate Balasankar continues, we are appealing to the public to help locate him.

“He can be violent and is considered a risk to women – if you see him, please don’t approach him but call police immediately.

“He has links across London, notably Newham, Greenford, Hammersmith, Highgate and Ilford, as well as the West Midlands. He has also been found in Grays and Manchester.

“If seen, call 999 immediately quoting CAD 6961/04Aug.”

Narayanan absconded from the care facility in Ilford twice last year and once in 2021, according to MailOnline.

In an appeal issued on Sep 22 last year, the Met said he absconded a day earlier.

A similar appeal by the force with the same warnings was made on June 21 last year, after he absconded from carers on June 18.

The Metropolitan Police also issued an appeal on Oct 10, 2021, saying that he absconded on Oct 7.

Two men have been jailed for an attack on “pro-EDL” (English Defence League) protesters after rival demonstrations in Leeds, with a judge warning that “severe sentences will follow” for anyone taking part in the violence.

Leeds Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of a group of Asian men kicking and punching a smaller group of four white men, one of whom was draped in a Union flag and wearing a Union flag mask, on Saturday afternoon on Great George Street, Leeds.

Sameer Ali, 21, of West Park Drive, Leeds, and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, of Spen Bank, Leeds, both admitted affray earlier this week.

On Friday, Ali was jailed for 20 months and Ghafoor was jailed for 18 months, with Ghafoor being ordered to serve an additional 12 months for breaching an unrelated suspended sentence.

Graham O’Sullivan, representing Ali, said his client was provoked by “Islamophobic threats and abuse” from the group of white men, including comments such as “f— Allah” and the use of racial slurs.

Frances Pencheon, defending Ghafoor, said: “It was a short-lived moment of madness against a backdrop of what was said to him, and a backdrop of what was happening in town that day.”

‘Severe sentences will follow’

Jailing the pair, Judge Guy Kearl KC, said: “Given the nationwide context of the violence, and in order to provide punishment and deterrence in accordance with the overarching principles of sentencing, severe sentences will follow for those found to have participated in incidents of violence.”

He added: “The actions of the two of you are not to be viewed in isolation.

“This was a group attack involving in excess of 10 men in the circumstances of a heightened state of public concern and anxiety to which you have contributed. Those who were attacked were kicked and punched by your group.”

Ali appeared for the hearing in the packed courtroom by videolink from prison, while Ghafoor appeared in the dock with two security guards.

Both men had been part of a group of hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators who gathered outside Leeds Art Gallery on Saturday to oppose a much smaller anti-immigration rally, described in court as a “pro-EDL” protest.

Despite minor scuffles with police after the anti-immigration protesters marched through the city centre, the event passed off relatively peacefully compared with a number of similar events elsewhere.

Katie Price has been warned by a judge she must attend court “no ifs, no buts, no going on holiday”.

The former glamour model, 46, was arrested on Thursday after ignoring a bankruptcy hearing last week to have a £10,000 facelift in Turkey. Police detained Price when she and her eldest son, Harvey, 22, landed at Heathrow.

Ms Price was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid £750,000 tax bill to the HMRC. She was previously instructed to give up several cars, including her pink Range Rover, and to pay 40 per cent of her earnings from the adult entertainment platform OnlyFans.

Wearing a beige outfit and a black head bandage, Ms Price appeared at a specialist bankruptcy court on Friday.

During the short hearing in London, Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Daniel Schaffer ordered Ms Price to give an “undertaking” to the court that she would attend a further hearing to face questions over her finances on Aug 27 at 10.30am.

He said: “You have to attend that date, no ifs or buts, no going abroad, no holidays.”

Accompanied by another woman throughout the hearing, Ms Price confirmed that she understood and added: “I will move my diary for it.”

Ms Price, who attended via video link from an office of High Court enforcement staff at the Royal Courts of Justice nearby, sat with her arms around her legs and her feet on the chair.

At one point she asked the judge whether she could attend the hearing later this month remotely, as she found it “difficult in a court”, saying: “Am I able to do it by Zoom or in a side room?”

“No,” the judge replied, adding that she could apply to attend remotely and “it does not take Einstein to do it”.

Ms Price said that she did not have legal representation, telling the court: “I have tried to get legal advice but have been charged £50,000 upfront.”

She continued: “I can’t get legal aid because I earn. I don’t know what to do on this,” and later added: “I have been asking for legal representation for all of this and no one would do it.”

She was bailed on Thursday night, with Judge Schaffer discharging an arrest warrant at the end of the hearing.

Ms Price had been due to face questions over her finances from barristers representing the trustee of both bankruptcies on July 30 but did not attend the hearing.

During that hearing, Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Catherine Burton had issued an arrest warrant for Ms Price, claiming she received “very clear warnings” that she must attend court.

The court was told that it had been reported that Ms Price had travelled to Turkey, with Judge Burton describing the reason for her absence as “irrelevant” and claiming that she had “no real excuse” for failing to attend.

She said that while a warrant was not issued “lightly”, Ms Price had offered only “piecemeal co-operation” and failed to provide the “most basic information” in relation to her bankruptcies.