The Metropolitan Police Service is continuing to respond to criminal activity across London following the riots in Tottenham on Saturday.
To date, more than 100 people have been arrested after looting and violence broke out overnight across a number of Boroughs of north, east and south London.
Speaking this morning, Home Secretary Theresa May said: “Last night, police officers again put themselves in harm’s way to protect Londoners and their property. Those responsible for the violence and looting will be made to face the consequences of their actions. Many have been arrested and further arrests will be made.”
The Home Secretary continued: “Londoners have made clear that there are no excuses for violence, and I call on all members of local communities to work constructively with the police to help them bring these criminals to justice.”
Speaking yesterday, May voiced her strong support for Metropolitan Police Service officers who dealt with the violence at close quarters.
May said: “I utterly condemn the violence in Tottenham. Such disregard for public safety and property will not be tolerated, and the Metropolitan Police Service have my full support in restoring order. I want to pay tribute to the officers who put themselves in harm’s way.”
Update from the Metropolitan Police Service
Providing an update on the number of arrests and number of officers injured, commander Christine Jones of the Met said: “Officers responding to sporadic disorder in a number of London Boroughs made more than 100 arrests throughout last night and early this morning. This is in addition to the 61 arrests made on Saturday night and Sunday morning.”
So far there have been 16 charges (for suspected burglary, points and blades, theft, POCA and violent disorder), 11 people are awaiting CPS advice, 17 have been bailed, one person has been cautioned and one sectioned under the Mental Health Act. There are 15 ongoing enquiries.
“Officers are shocked at the outrageous level of violence directed against them,” continued commander Jones. “At least nine officers were injured overnight in addition to the 26 injured on Saturday night. We will not tolerate this disgraceful violence. The investigation continues to bring these criminals to justice.”
Operation Withern has seen additional resources geographically deployed on high visibility patrols.
Additional officers are on duty in Tottenham, and cordons remain in place around primary crime scenes.
Officers from Haringey Borough have met with members of the local community and that dialogue will continue. Community representatives from across London have joined forces at New Scotland Yard to be briefed on the operation so far and to engage in two-way feedback.
The Operation Withern team is being led by detective superintendent John Sweeney and is made up of detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, specialist investigators from the Public Order Branch and police support staff.
Officers are in the process of reviewing hours of CCTV and taking witness statements. There is a primary crime scene that runs from Monument Way to Lansdowne Road. Detectives are on the scene scoping out the number of buildings and businesses broken into and damaged. This operation will, of course, take some time.
Forensic examiners will slowly and painstakingly work their way through this crime scene seeking to retrieve as much evidence as possible. Processing this crime scene properly is of the utmost importance to the investigations.
Police have condemned the wave of “copycat criminal activity” across London in the second night of looting and disorder following the initial riots in Tottenham.
Enfield, Walthamstow, Waltham Forest and Brixton involved
The riots last night spread to Enfield, Walthamstow and Waltham Forest in north London and to Brixton in the south of the city. 0ver 35 police officers have been hurt over the two nights of rioting.
Metropolitan Police commander Adrian Hanstock said: “This is not groups of people acting on behalf of communities or with any consent. This is individuals who are actually attacking communities, businesses, properties and houses and actually causing a huge amount of upset and criminality.”
He added: “Obviously there are people in this city, sadly, who are intent on violence, who are looking for the opportunity to steal and set fire to buildings and create a sense of mayhem, whether they’re anarchists or part of organised gangs or just feral youth who fancy a new pair of trainers.”
Impact on London’s image
Talking about the impact on the capital’s image, one year ahead of the Olympic Games, Hanstock said: “It’s pretty rotten for London, it does not look good.”
Press Association photographer Lewis Whyld saw looters battle police at a Currys store in Brixton. He said: “A couple of hundred youths were rioting and looting. Riot police went in to get them out and there was a big fight in the street. Youths were throwing rocks and bottles and there was a bin on fire. They used a fire extinguisher to push the police back so they could get back into Currys and continue taking things out.”
Commander Adrian Hanstock continued: “If you have been a victim of crime during the disorder please go to your local police station and let them know. We want to hear from you. Detectives from Operation Withern will then be in touch with you to make sure that the crime is investigated.”
He added: “Anyone who has any information about those responsible for these offences that rocked the heart of the local community, please get in touch with us. The disorder and violence we have seen was pure criminality and cannot be justified. We are determined to arrest those responsible.”
Various reports on social media networks suggest further disorder is being planned. Any intelligence will be assessed and actioned.
Any information can be passed to the police anonymously via Crimestoppers on (telephone) 0800 555 111
