FEW could fail to have been stunned by the recent appalling violence.

Hordes of right-wing thugs rampaging through the streets of towns and cities across the UK, setting fire to hotels, libraries and police stations, looting shops, attacking places of worship and terrifying residents, all in the apparent name of patriotism.

Of course, this must be dealt with and dealt with hard and fast.

Ironically, of all the 650 MPs in the House of Commons, I can think of no better qualified member than the Prime Minister.

Keir Starmer was director of public prosecutions back when we had the summer of rioting and looting in 2011.

He drove through a hard response.

Back then, and now, we adopted the additional courts protocol where courts sit 24/7 to process the charges against the rioters.

Interestingly, in 2011 the judiciary was unusually tough to the disdain of some human rights campaigners.

Few, I suspect, would want courts to do otherwise this time.

And, for the police, rest days are cancelled and numbers available to control the thugs increased.

This all raises so many questions about details of the response as well as wider societal ones. Should, for example, parliament be recalled?

Without specific reasons, such as a relevant, crucial vote, it seems a largely pointless waste of money.

Whilst the original claim was that this was a response to the horrific attack on the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club, the patterns over the last few days suggest this is more anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant than anything else.

Online agitators have track records in this arena.

The public response has been extraordinary.

People have gathered to clean up the mess, including those from outside the neighbourhoods affected.

I suspect few who have seen the homes attacked, whilst young children cower in their bedrooms, will not be appalled by what is happening.

Our long-term response needs to be careful.

We have just held a general election where immigration has been a leading topic of debate.

But I suspect those who raised this on their doorsteps condemn the violence as much as anyone.

This government, and politicians in general, need to tread carefully.

Listening to the legitimate concerns of our population is just as important as condemning racist violence.

But we must deliver a clear message — uncontrolled violence will be met with harsh, swift punishment.

There is no room for racism in the UK.