Full transcript of press conference after weekend of chaos

We have written a summary of what was said here, but here is the transcript in full.

Andy Burnham

Burnham said: “A week ago, three little girls were murdered and many more injured in a barbaric attack in Southport. We should have been spending the last seven days focusing on their families and those injured, instead of having to witness the disgraceful scenes we have seen up and down the country.

“From the beginning Greater Manchester Police put in a strong plan to deal with incidents of violence and disorder. That plan has worked and in testing circumstances, GMP has made maintained control throughout the weekend.

“We are grateful to everybody throughout the force at all levels, officers and civilian staff, for working hard to keep our community safe. We are confident in the proactive approach GMP is taking.

Mayor Andy Burnham spoke at the press conference on Monday afternoon (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

“We continue to monitor the intelligence and our robust approach will not change, however long this lasts.

“I will personally ensure that GMP have all of the resources they need to maintain control of our streets and law and order in our communities.

“All residents of Greater Manchester can be assured that we will do everything within our power to keep you safe, and those taking part in criminal activities: they will face every possible consequence.

“Over the weekend there were 19 arrests and I can update the figures for you.

“There have been four more arrests today, so in total 23 arrests.

“And, people are being brought before the courts today and will continue to be brought before them for the remainder of this week.

“Many more offenders are being identified, more doors will be knocked on, and more offenders will be brought to justice.

“There is not, and there will never be, two tier policing in Greater Manchester.

“Criminality is criminality. If you break the law, you will face the consequences. It's as simple as that.

“Going forward, GMP have assured me that they will pursue every legal avenue to prevent a repeat, such as criminal behaviour orders, stopping known and repeat offenders from entering our towns and cities.

“I want to finish on this point: this morning there were hundreds and thousands of people in our city region who will have gone out of their doors to work, looking over their shoulder.

“Just think about that for one minute and what that must feel like.

‘“Some of the people taking to the streets and shouting ‘we want our country back’ in fact want to make it something it has never been before: a place where people fear for their safety going about their everyday business.

“We must not, and we will not let them prevail. I'll now hand over to the Deputy Mayor.”

Deputy Mayor Kate Green

The deputy mayor said: “Let me also begin by thanking the officers and staff of Greater Manchester Police for the job they've done over the weekend to protect our city region.

“As we've seen this weekend, policing can be dangerous work. Officers faced an exceptionally challenging situation and met it with bravery and professionalism.

“We thank them for their swift action and all those who supported the effort to keep our residents and businesses safe across the city region.

“That includes our councils, firefighters, ambulance crews, Transport for Greater Manchester staff, our health services, and community partners.

Deputy Mayor Kate Green said she was 'proud' of the way Greater Manchester had 'pulled together' (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

“The mayor and I have kept in constant touch with the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable.

“GMP, as you've heard, had significant resources in place over the weekend and police commanders were quick to implement the legislative powers available to them.

“We are satisfied that those powers were necessary and were used proportionately.

“Section 34 dispersal orders were used, which allowed police to order troublemakers to leave an area and ban them from returning to that location for up to 48 hours.

“Section 60 powers allowed senior commanders to authorise officers to stop and search anyone they suspected was planning to commit acts of serious violence.

“Those powers enabled police to confiscate weapons.

“Section 60AA powers allowed police officers to order the removal of face coverings, such as balaclavas, used to conceal identity.

“GMP use these powers across the city region and they will not hesitate to use them again if needed.

“As you've heard from the mayor, criminal investigations are now underway and those who’ve committed offences will be pursued and brought to justice.

“Our police are well resourced, well trained and well led. They police without fear or favour.

“As the mayor has said, there is no two tier policing in Greater Manchester.

“I'm proud of the way Greater Manchester has once again pulled together this weekend to keep our community safe.

“Behind the scenes, local leaders and public servants worked around the clock together and while we've seen bad actors on social media stoking divisions, decent people across the city region have been working quietly on the ground to calm things down and we are grateful to them.

“Only by continuing to work together in this way can we defeat those who want to divide us.

“This is where we're at our strongest, and we will continue to engage with people across Greater Manchester in the coming days and weeks to strengthen the bonds between our communities.

“Greater Manchester has a proud tradition of peaceful protest.  What we will not tolerate is the spreading of fear and hate or criminal disorder.

“Those who commit criminal acts will be brought to justice, and there will never be a place for violence or intimidation in our city region. I'll now hand over to the leader of Manchester City Council.”

Bev Craig, Manchester City Council leader

“Following a weekend that saw a number of serious incidents of unrest in towns and cities across the country, we know that our communities will be feeling understandably anxious and uneasy this morning.

“We want to place on record and be clear, to reassure our residents that we will not tolerate disorder on our streets, and that their safety is our priority.

“Manchester's diversity is our strength, and it is now more important than ever that we support one another with compassion, with understanding, and with solidarity.

Manchester City Council leader said violence and disorder would 'never be tolerated' (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

“I'm deeply aware that some of our communities, especially minority communities, are feeling anxious about hostility, abuse, racism, anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination.

“Much of this has also made its way onto social media, where misinformation and hate is being spread.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community, and we will work with colleagues at GMP, with mayor and deputy mayor, to monitor local concerns and make sure that Manchester remains a welcoming and a safe place, and as such, there will be an increased police presence in our neighbourhoods, and we want to be clear that officers are there primarily to support, provide visibility and reassurance in keeping people safe.

“We fully support GMP in taking robust action against anyone who is intent on bringing violence and disorder to our streets. As we've heard today, with the arrest count continuing to rise, swift justice is going to be brought to all of those that have perpetrated disorder and hatred on our streets.

“And I also want to place on record my thanks to GMP, to council staff, to colleagues across partner agencies right across the city region, who have worked hard in recent days to keep Manchester safe under very challenging circumstances.

“There is no justification and there will be never any justification for criminal behaviour, and the actions of perpetrators undermines everything that our city stands for.

“Violence and disorder will never be tolerated and the message of our city is clear. We are proud to be a vibrant, tolerant and accepting place. We know, and history has shown us that there is more that unites us than divides us.

“So now is the time that we come together to show in reality what this means. To come together as a city and a city region and be unequivocal and clear that there is no place and there will never be any place for hatred on our streets.”