Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has warned any repeat of the ”utterly unacceptable” scenes of unrest in south London will face the "full force of the law."
Following chaotic scenes in Clapham over the past few days, the mayor said anyone planning further mayhem over the Easter weekend will be “identified, held responsible and punished accordingly.”
Hundreds of young people descended upon Clapham High Street and Clapham Common on Tuesday, as around 100 police officers responded to reports of youths attempting to access shops and restaurants, as well as lighting fires and setting off fireworks.
Five people were assaulted, including four police officers, with one officer taken to hospital after suffering an injury to his arm while making an arrest.
The Metropolitan Police have arrested six teenage girls, with a 17-year-old and two 13-year-olds arrested on suspicion of assault on Tuesday, and two 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-old arrested on Saturday for suspected shoplifting and assault.
Khan and the Met have both said that more arrests will be made in the coming days, as police review a significant volume of CCTV and body worn video, and specialist officers work to identify those who played a leading or organising role.
“The culprits will face the full force of the law,” said Khan on Thursday.
The unrest was reportedly organised through "link-ups" on apps like TikTok and Snapchat, with similar events taking place in the same area on Saturday night.
As rumours circulate that another event is planned for this Saturday, Khan has announced a strong policing plan for the upcoming weekend, which includes increased officer numbers in hotspot areas and the use of dispersal orders.
He described the scenes in Clapham earlier this week as “utterly unacceptable,” adding that they spread fear in the local community, and emphasising that assaulting and intimidating retail staff and police officers are serious offences.
Khan said: "My message to anyone thinking of going out this weekend to commit crime in our shops or on our high streets is that your actions will have consequences. You will be identified, held responsible and punished accordingly.
“The dissemination of viral online content which promotes violence and theft can have damaging real-life consequences both for frontline workers and communities across the country. It breaks down our social fabric and undermines community cohesion.”
The mayor also highlighted the progress made over recent years in reducing many serious crimes, citing investment in London’s young people in an attempt to reverse “the damaging legacy of austerity.”
He added: “But the scenes we saw in Clapham are completely inexcusable and unacceptable, and show why we must continue to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We must stamp out this kind of behaviour which does such damage to our communities."
A Met spokesperson said: “The Met has a strong policing plan in place to prevent and deal with any future disorder. This includes increasing police officer numbers in the area and the use of dispersal orders, as officers take a zero-tolerance approach.
“Ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, the Met has also made clear that anyone involved in similar events or caught promoting them will be dealt with decisively.
“We also expect social media companies to play their part by taking responsibility for content on their platforms that promotes or incites disorder.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing in the area, urged young people who “think this is just a bit of fun” to consider the consequences of their actions.
She said: “Events like this, fuelled by online trends and viral content on social media platforms, can quickly escalate and lead to serious outcomes. If you join in or cause further disorder, you should expect to be arrested and risk a criminal record, which can have long-lasting consequences for your future, including employment opportunities and potentially your ability to travel.”
Bond also urged the parents and guardians of those involved to be proactive in knowing where their children are and who they are with, and to take steps to make sure they are not involved in antisocial behaviour.
Similar disturbances were also reported in Birmingham city centre on Friday after schools broke up for the Easter holidays, with a handful of arrests for public order offences.
