A police chief has claimed she was pressured by a Labour Minister to retract a statement where she suggested "mass uncontrolled immigration" was a factor behind last years riots.

Jones, who did not name the then-newly appointed Minister, at the time, alleged that she was told: "You and I both know this has nothing to do with immigration."

The Minister was also said to have asked Jones to take down the statement.

The Commissioner said it showed that the Government was "out of touch" and shared fears that anti-migrant hotel protests would escalate.

Jones also warned that there was a risk that parts of the UK would fall "into a state of lawlessness".

"Last summer, I issued a statement urging the government to address the root causes of why people are protesting," Jones said.

"After I put my statement out, on the same day, a Labour Government Minister called me and asked me to retract my statement saying it was misleading the public and causing community tensions."

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Donna Jones previously on GB News

Jones said she told the minister "they were wrong and it was absolutely why people were protesting".

"Those are not scenes we ever want to see again," the police chief said.

"These protests will continue to happen unless the government takes serious and tangible action to stop the flow of immigration into the UK."

Jones later claimed that, "with more protests planned for August", there was no sign of an imminent solution being put forward by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper or Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

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"I fear parts of the country risk falling into a state of lawlessness," she said.

"People continue to be concerned about the number of people arriving on our shores daily and the impact this is having on local services."

The Commissioner added that community stability was a valid concern.

"And those who are not concerned are rightly anxious about the unrest on their streets," Jones said.

"This won't stop until people's fears are addressed."

Jones also issued a stark warning about policing, claiming forces were "stressed to the limit" and claiming officers could not be expected to maintain public order under current conditions.

She continued by saying police would also struggle to meet neighbouring policing targets and halve knife crime and violence against women and girls

Jones is running as the Conservative candidate for Hampshire & the Isle of Wight Mayor.

When she made the statement last year, she was the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners Chairwoman.

Former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal condemned Jones' comments as "totally unacceptable" at the time.

He also said she was "appearing to justify rioting and criminality that police officers are bravely having to deal with right now".

Jones defended her approach after receiving such criticism, saying it was important to understand "the views of those attending rallies".