Police will mount operations all over the country this weekend to prevent new outbreaks of violence when lockdown rules are eased.
Martin Hewitt, head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said forces recognised “people have had frustrations” and would be ready to enjoy the “new freedom” that will come when pubs, restaurants, hotels and other businesses reopen on Saturday.
But he said it remained vital that the public acted responsibly to prevent the risk of a second wave of Covid-19.
He also warned that police were prepared to counter any disorder as he denounced the “awful scenes” and “completely unacceptable” violence towards officers at unlawful events in London.
In Brixton on Wednesday night dozens of officers were injured as they broke up an illegal block party. There was more trouble the following night at another unlawful gathering in Notting Hill, while a firearm and a “Rambo-style knife” were seized by officers who broke up another unlicensed music event in Newham on Friday night.
Officers had to break up more illegal raves this weekend as revellers gathered on Clapham Common, Tooting Bec Common and in Springfield Park, Hackney. Police issued dispersal zone orders giving them the power to arrest anyone who refused to leave.
Mr Hewitt said today that the easing of the lockdown on what some have described as “Super Saturday” would present police with a new challenge, but that forces were ready to cope.
“There’ll be policing operations all over the country to deal with the circumstances we find ourselves in,” he said.
“People have been locked down for some time, there clearly is some frustration, so whenever this opens up people will want to get out there. But it really is about people thinking responsibly because the virus is still with us and we don’t want situations where we end up having to police levels of disorder and violence.”
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has condemned the “utterly unacceptable” attacks on officers which led to “up to 140-odd” suffering injuries.
