Man Arrested for “Encouraging Murder” After Video of Dartford Labour Councillor Surfaces
A man has been taken into custody on suspicion of “encouraging murder” following the circulation of a video showing a Dartford councillor making violent comments about anti-immigration protesters.
The arrest, made this morning, follows the online spread of footage that appears to show Dartford Councillor Ricky Jones making provocative statements during a counter-protest. The Met Police reported: “A man in his 50s was arrested at a location in South East London on charges of encouraging murder and an offence under the Public Order Act. He is currently being held at a South London police station.”
The remarks were made during a speech on August 7 at a protest aimed at countering far-right efforts targeting asylum centres and the lawyers assisting asylum seekers. Councillor Ricky Jones, representing Princes Ward in Dartford, has been suspended by his party following the incident.
The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), allegedly shows Jones criticizing the presence of razor blades and National Front stickers on train seats. In another clip, he reportedly makes a throat-cutting gesture while denouncing far-right groups as “disgusting, Nazi fascists” and calling for their removal.
The Dartford Labour Party has condemned Jones’ behavior, issuing a statement saying: “We are aware of the video involving a member of Dartford Labour Group. The behavior shown is entirely unacceptable, and the member has been suspended from the Labour Party. We will not be commenting further at this time.”
In response to the video, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for Jones’ arrest, questioning the fairness of the legal system and accusing it of being biased. He tagged the Metropolitan Police in his post, stating: “This man should be arrested. If not, we know there is a two-tier policing system.”
Accusations of two-tier policing have been a point of contention, with critics alleging that the police handle right-wing demonstrations more harshly than left-wing or ethnically diverse protests. Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Met Police, dismissed these claims as “complete nonsense,” asserting that the police operate independently and impartially.
Dartford Council has acknowledged the suspension but refrained from further comment due to the ongoing investigation. Last night, police presence in Kent cities was heightened following concerns of potential disorder. However, disturbances were limited to Chatham, where three people were arrested during clashes with anti-racism protesters.
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