Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Review into Leicester disorder halts after social media ‘storm’

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says it needs time ‘to reflect on the best way to proceed'.

Review into Leicester disorder halts after social media ‘storm’

An independent inquiry into the recent disorder in Leicester has been halted after questions were raised over the integrity of an academic appointed to lead the exercise.

Hate crime expert and University of Leicester assistant professor Chris Allen stepped down as the head of the review team a week after his appointment, according to a LeicestershireLive report.

Uncertainties have now gripped the inquiry, with the city’s mayor Sir Peter Soulsby indicating it needs time “to reflect on the best way to proceed”.

He, however, committed to having a review of the circumstances that led to the violence in the city, historically known for racial and cultural diversity.

Dozens of people were arrested in September over violent confrontations between Hindu and Muslim groups, escalated in part by fake news on social media. The situation prompted the local police to step up visible patrolling. But peace was finally restored and Navratri and Diwali were celebrated peacefully in the city.

However, the review commissioned by the mayor was mired in controversy as several Hindu community leaders doubted Allen’s impartiality saying his denial of the influence of Islamist extremism on the unrest pointed to his prejudice.

While Allen said he was keen on taking everyone on board, the mayor defended the academic saying his credentials were “impeccable” and some of the allegations against him were not true.

"I announced the appointment and a Twitter storm broke loose,” Sir Soulsby said, referring to the criticism surrounding the head of the review team.

“And amongst the things that were said about Chris Allen were things that were just grossly untrue," the mayor said, adding the assistant professor could have felt “it was just not possible” to lead the exercise.

A “very disappointed” Sir Soulsby said, “I think (Allen) just decided it was crazy to go on with that sort of stuff being piled on him.”

As there has been a demand for the Home Office to step into the matter, the mayor said he was considering options around the review.

“If the Home Office or another government department would like to take responsibility for a review, I’d be happy to discuss it with them,” Sir Soulsby said.

The Home Office did not divulge anything specific about the issue, with its spokesperson merely saying it was committed to making “our streets and communities safer.”

More For You

Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

The prayer meet was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami

Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

A PRAYER meet was held at the Gandhi Hall in the High Commission of India in London on Thursday (24) to pay respects to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ rang out at the event which was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK  mini heatwave

Sunny conditions will bring early summer warmth

Getty

UK to see mini heatwave as temperatures climb towards 24 °c

The UK is set for a period of warmer weather in the coming days, with temperatures expected to rise significantly across parts of the country. According to the Met Office, a spell of dry and sunny conditions will bring early summer warmth, although it will fall short of the threshold for an official heatwave.

Temperatures in south-eastern and central England could reach 23°c to 24°c by Tuesday, around 10C above the seasonal average for some areas. The Met Office described this as a “very warm spell” rather than a heatwave, though the contrast with recent cooler weather will be noticeable.

Keep ReadingShow less
indian-army-reuters

Indian security force personnel stand guard at the site of the attack on tourists in Baisaran near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, April 24, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Indian and Pakistani troops exchange fire along Line of Control

INDIAN and Pakistani troops exchanged fire overnight along the Line of Control in Kashmir, officials from both sides said on Friday.

The exchange took place days after a deadly attack in the region and amid calls from the United Nations for both countries to show "maximum restraint".

Keep ReadingShow less
India declares state mourning for Pope Francis, Modi leads tributes

A sculpture by Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik in Puri, Odisha, on Monday (21)

India declares state mourning for Pope Francis, Modi leads tributes

INDIA began three days of state mourning on Tuesday (22) for the Pope, a rare honour for a foreign religious leader, as prime minister Narendra Modi joined other south Asian and world leaders in paying tributes following his death on Monday (21).

Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure, the Vatican said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Minority youth face racist content online once a week, report reveals

As many as 95 per cent of respondents reported encountering violent or abusive racist content online. (Photo: iStock)

Minority youth face racist content online once a week, report reveals

MOST young people from black and minority communities in Britain encounter racist content online, a new study revealed, with more than half reporting it damages their sense of safety.

The "Youth, Race and Social Media" report published on Thursday (24) highlighted a troubling picture of online racism and its effects on young people aged 16-24.

Keep ReadingShow less