The prime minister and foreign secretary have both spoken publicly to condemn the death of George Floyd, to express concern at the violence we’ve seen, and to underline people’s right to protest peacefully.

As we have always said, journalists must be free to do their job and to hold authorities to account without fear of arrest or violence.

The announcement of the embassy’s involvement came after Labour leader Keir Starmer wrote to the PM urging him to challenge Donald Trump to respect human rights following the US president’s incendiary remarks about the Black Lives Matter protests.

In a letter to the prime minister, the Labour leader said there was a moral obligation to speak out and the UK must show it was ready to stand together with those who seek to tackle the injustice and inequality that remains within all our societies.

Australia’s government has already raised a complaint with the Trump administration after Channel 7 reporter Amelia Brace and her cameraman were knocked over by riot police as they ploughed into crowds at a Washington rally, firing rubber bullets and tear gas.