Potential law firm targets of mob violence have been urged not to work late tonight and avoid face-to-face meetings.
Precautions are being taken by firms and immigration centres named online as potential targets for rioters on Wednesday evening. Counter-demonstrators have also mobilised online and made plans to attend these sites.
Police chiefs have said that public order reserves will be on standby in strategic locations throughout the week, with thousands of extra officers available for rapid deployment if disorder arises.
The Law Society said yesterday it has ‘serious concerns’ about the safety and wellbeing of solicitors following names and addresses of several firms being shared online. Those identified have been contacted to ensure they are aware of the threat.
Many of the lawyers at these firms and other immigration practices are working from home, but the Society stresses that those who are in the office should take extra care when leaving and should be away before 8pm.
The Society advises: ‘If attending the office, make sure you are not working alone and that you are aware of all points of entry and exit, including fire escapes. If possible, do not work close to a window and make sure all office windows are closed and doors are locked.’
Lawyers should only take online appointments and meetings and firms should consider whether it is appropriate to temporarily remove addresses or individual contact details.
The Gazette is aware of at least one firm which does not even offer immigration services which has urged staff to lock all doors and windows and not to leave any lights turned on.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner has temporarily disabled its register of immigration lawyers and firms amid concerns about threats from far right groups.
Lord chancellor Shabana Mahmood said today: ‘Every day, across the country solicitors uphold the rule of law. Inciting mobs to attack their offices, or threatening them in any way, is unacceptable. Those found doing so will face the full force of the law. They will join the hundreds of others who have already been arrested by police within the last week.’
The list of potential targets, which has been widely circulated on social media, includes business addresses but also sole practitioners and even home addresses.
Naveed Mukhtar, a visa and immigration solicitor whose name and home address is on the list, told Channel 4 News: ‘You just panic. You just think that something worse is going to happen. For me when you talk about home and you are living there with your three daughters who are little ones, you just feel scared. I said to my wife and children: "Get everything in the bag, we have just got to go".'
