Far-right protesters, accused of widespread anti-immigrant violence in the UK, may now face charges of rioting, and not just violent disorder. While violent disorder carries a jail sentence of up to five years, the rioting charge attracts a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.
A 15-year-old boy from Sunderland became the first to be charged with rioting. This came as a shock to the teenager who had already pleaded guilty of violent disorder and burglary.
Northumbria Police said detectives believed the boy was "involved in further criminality" after viewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.
District Judge Zoe Passfield of South Tyneside Youth Court said the rioting charge must be surprising and confusing to the boy. The case has been adjourned to September 2.
Though the boy was the first to be charged, authorities said they plan to prosecute a number of individuals for rioting.
More than a thousand people have been arrested and over 600 have been charged so far in connection with the violent protests. Many have received jail sentences.