Riot police 'robustly and swiftly' shut down illegal rave attended by hundreds in north London's Finsbury park and are pelted with a barrage of bricks and bottles
Riot police fended off a barrage of bricks and bottles thrown by revellers as they shut down an illegal rave attended by hundreds in London last night.
Video from the scene shows officers in riot gear forming a line as they walk down a street near the Woodberry Down Estate in Finsbury Park to disperse crowds.
Other footage uploaded to social media show revellers throwing kerb stone bricks and glass bottles at police as they tried to move people from the area as residents complained about a police helicopter circling overheard for hours.
Scotland Yard has vowed to pour more officers onto the streets of London ahead of more expected illegal raves and violent crime this weekend.
The Metropolitan Police have struggled to tackle disorder at huge late-night street parties during the lockdown which have seen police mobbed.
Met chief Dame Cressida Dick has vowed to 'swiftly and robustly' quash illegal raves after she was read the riot act by Priti Patel for going soft on revellers.
Mass gatherings were outlawed by the Government and social distancing rules were imposed in March in an attempt to slow the transmission of COVID-19.
Fears about the spread of coronavirus are growing again after the Government's scientific advisory group said the virus R rate has crept above one in London.
The Metropolitan Police said: 'We stated earlier that any such illegal event would be closed down by police to protect the public and prevent crime.'
Riot police fended off a barrage of bricks and bottles thrown by revellers as they shut down an illegal rave attended by hundreds in London last night
Video from the scene shows officers in riot gear forming a line as they walk down a street near the Woodberry Down Estate in Finsbury Park to disperse crowds
Other footage uploaded to social media show revellers throwing kerb stone bricks and glass bottles at police as they tried to move people from the area as residents complained about a police helicopter circling overheard for hours
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi said officers would be deployed over the weekend following recent murders and intelligence on unlicensed events.
She added: 'The past week has seen a number of people who have needlessly lost their lives at the hands of violent criminals - any number of murders is too many but we are very concerned by the recent increase.
'We have also seen an increase in unlicensed music events which, as well as being very disruptive to communities and posing an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission, they have in some cases led to violent incidents affecting both those attending and the officers who have to shut them down.
'Tackling violence is always the Met's number one priority and we are doing all we can to prevent any further incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.'
Scotland Yard said police were alerted by locals to the 'unlicensed music event' after vowing to 'robustly and swiftly' deal with disorder
Last night's gathering was the latest illegal rave thrown by young people which police have shut down during the coronavirus lockdown
Illegal 'Covid raves': revellers on 'Super Saturday'
Several illegal raves took place on July 4, dubbed Super Saturday, as Boris Johnson allowed pubs and bars in England to reopen to the public.
Leicestershire Police were forced to impose an urgent dispersal order on Market Harborough when alcohol-fuelled disorder erupted on Saturday night.
It came as a busload of Leicester City fans who went up to Nottingham to watch the match with Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon gave themselves away after cheering wildly as their hero Jamie Vardy scored his 100th Premier League goal.
Police had already feared being overrun by out-of-town drinkers when pubs reopened on Saturday after Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby claimed that Leicester pub fans in search of a pint 'could drive to Market Harborough'.
Leicestershire Police were forced to impose an urgent dispersal order on Market Harborough (pictured) when alcohol booze-fuelled disorder erupted on Super Saturday
Powers to send people away from the town centre were handed to police after 'shameful and frightening' scenes
Police had already feared being overrun by out-of-town drinkers when pubs reopened on Super Saturday after Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby claimed that Leicester pub fans in search of a pint 'could drive to Market Harborough'
The historic town of Market Harborough is just 15 miles south-east of Leicester - a short hop for thirsty citizens locked down in the city
Mr Spicknall added: 'The trains were busy but there were also lots of cars and taxis. I would say 200 to 300 arrived from 4pm onwards.
'You could tell they were from Leicester - the accent is very different. It's really noticeable to someone from Market Harborough when they speak to someone from Leicester. There were lots and lots of police - almost like you'd see at the football.'
Leicestershire Police were granted powers to force people to leave the town centre until 7am yesterday over the 'shameful and frightening' scenes.
A force spokesman said a man, 21, was detained on suspicion of assaulting another man, following reports a woman was attacked.
Locals condemned the thugs as 'absolute disgraces' and 'absolutely outrageous'. One said on Twitter: 'It was pandemonium last night in Harborough, with gangs of thugs out from Leicester. All pubs in Leicestershire should remain shut until the city opens. Harborough was like a war zone with all the lights and noise.'
Another added: 'Half of Leicester was in Market Harborough for a pint.'
Pub giant Wetherspoons distanced itself from reports its Sugar Loaf pub was involved in the disturbances. Inspector Siobhán Gorman revealed there had been 'incidents' in the centre of the town, tweeting: 'A dispersal order is in place. People are now starting to leave.'
Locals condemned the thugs as 'absolute disgraces' and 'absolutely outrageous'. One added: 'Put us back into lockdown and keep the idiots at home!'
Despite temporary laws being imposed in Leicester - which has the UK's highest COVID-19 rate - there was no enforceable ban on travel out of the city.
Transport police at Leicester station advised locals not to travel but had no powers to stop them.
Market Harborough is just a 15-minute direct train ride away or a 20 minute drive from Leicester.
Local Lib Dem councillor Phil Knowles described the scenes as 'desperately sad and unnecessary'. Last week, Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told The Times, Leicester locals wanting a pint 'could drive to Market Harborough'.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: 'A Section 34 Dispersal Order was authorised giving officers the power to require people to leave the area to reduce the risk of causing harassment, alarm or distress to the local community and to also reduce the risk of any further public disorder.
'The order was in place between 11pm and 7am on Sunday.
'Working with local licensees once the order was put in place the majority of those gathered left the area peacefully.
'To prevent any further incidents of disruption a number of premises made the decision to close their doors early.
'We continue to work closely with partners, business owners and the local community to address concerns around anti-social behaviour in the area
'Reports were received of a woman having been assaulted in the town last night and enquiries are continuing into the allegation.
'As a result of these enquiries a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault after a man was subsequently injured. The suspect remains in police custody.'
Friends embrace in the streets of Soho, London on the second day since lockdown restrictions were eased in England
Sunday night saw revellers carry on from 'Super Saturday' - during which millions of pints were thought to have been poured
This is the scene a rave in Hackney, east London last night as people held illegal raves all over the country this weekend
Police were called to the public park in east London - but it is not clear if there were any arrests here or at another rave in the borough, which saw the area commander impose a dispersal order to try to break them up
In nearby Narborough, a pub shut down after a man was injured in a bar brawl.
A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray after another man suffered neck injuries at The Copt Oak.
Police shut down raves across London as Britons freed from lockdown restrictions cast social distancing aside and partied into the early hours.
Large areas of northeast London were put under 'dispersal orders' by police as they battled to shut down a series of illegal music events.
Footage from Millfields Park in Hackney captured dozens of partygoers as they gathered for a late-night rave in the capital on Sunday, with groups seen drinking while wearing green and purple flashing headphones.
In a second clip, officers stood watch inside Hackney Downs Park - where hundreds of revellers had joined together to party despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Officers cleared revellers (pictured) from a wooded area in Eston, near Teesside
Officers also appealed to parents and guardians to check the 'whereabouts of their children'
Officers caught wind of the rave and took to Twitter to warn would-be rule-breakers 'not to attend' and 'ask parents and guardians to check on the whereabouts of their children'.
A spokesman added: 'Enquiries are ongoing and anyone found to be breaking the law will be dealt with appropriately.'
Police helicopters were also called in to help clear the woodland, reports the BBC.
Video from the night, that appears to have been posted on Snapchat, shows a swarm of youngsters yelling as they brandish beer cans and bottles.
In one scene, a reveller is seen falling to the ground. Cigarettes were also used at the event, footage shows.
Officers also had to be scrambled to clear crowds of revellers from a bar in Hackney, London, as drinkers stood side by side, with scant regard for social distancing, as police swooped on the bar past 10.30pm.
They were seen herding drinkers away, as a police van also arrived on the scene.
Residents said they had made numerous calls to officers, and that bars were closed within ten minutes of their arrival. One greeted their arrival with: 'Yay we can sleep!'
At 10pm, they also told would-be law-breakers not to attend the late night rave
Officers also swooped on a bar in Hackney, London, after revellers stood side by side to down pints with apparent scant regard for social distancing measures
Police disbursed the crowd of Super-Saturday drinkers within ten minutes, residents said
Pictured above are officers heading to clear away revellers from the bar
A police van pictured on the scene as drinkers are moved on and sent home
Illegal 'Covid raves': the June 'mini-heatwave'
Police across the UK were confronted with a string of illegal mass gatherings as temperatures rocketed in June to 90F.
Officers who broke up a 200-strong illegal party in woodland in Vigo Village in Gravesham, Kent, at 10pm on June 27 said said the 'extremely disruptive' event had a 'detrimental impact on the most vulnerable members of society'.
Police forces across the country pledged to crack down hard on illegal social gatherings after thugs attacked them at meet ups.
Officers raided an unauthorised woodland gathering in Vigo Village in Gravesham, Kent, at 10pm on June 27 (general view)
It comes after two men in their 20s were stabbed during a beach rave 40 miles away in Leysdown (pictured) at 11.55pm days earlier as a suspect was arrested and bailedAssistant Chief Constable of Kent Police Nikki Faulconbridge said: 'While it is understandable that people should miss being able to visit nightclubs, festivals and concerts at this difficult time, that is no excuse for anyone who might be thinking about organising an unlicensed music event.
'Such events have been illegal for many years but the increased risk of passing COVID-19 from one person to another makes it even more important that people do not hold or attend any mass gatherings of this nature.
'This is why we will continue to take robust action and will not hesitate to bring people before the courts if necessary.
'These events have a detrimental impact on local communities and in particular the most vulnerable members of society who are already being badly affected by the impact of the coronavirus.
Kent Police is warning people not to break the law by holding their own unlicensed music events this summer
'People who organise inappropriate gatherings and help to publicise such events should consider their individual responsibilities for following Government advice and encouraging others to do the same, at a time when COVID-19 continues to pose a significant risk to public health.'
A massive block party in West Kilburn moved to Maida Vale where riot police battled hundreds of revellers who threw missiles at them.
Disorder broke out at a rave in Colville Gardens, Notting Hill just 24 hours after a 'mini riot' broke out in Brixton.
In Brixton, police vehicles were smashed and officers pelted with bottles during clashes with a large crowd, with Downing Street condemning the 'appalling' scenes and Ms Patel calling them 'utterly vile'.
Three men suffered knife wounds during a fight on a packed Bournemouth beach yesterday, while 50 youths brawled in Exmouth, Devon.
Police speaking with revellers wearing face masks as illegal raves break out across the UK
Video footage shows a massive party in West Kilburn as police battled revellers with shields and truncheons while loud music blare
Riot police with shields breaking up an illegal rave in Maida Vale, west London
A massive block party in West Kilburn took place as riot police battled hundreds of revellers with shields and truncheons
The majority of revellers at the West Kilburn 'block party' are thought to have then marched through London to join another rave in Maida Vale
Police said that the crowds 'refused to leave the location' after officers first engaged with them at the illegal party at around 3pm
Riot police struggled to clear yet another London block party after officers were attacked in a violent street party in Brixton
It comes after a week of violence at multiple illegal parties during the June mini-heatwave which has seen temperatures soar to 90F
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick spoke with Priti Patel over the illegal raves this week
One officer was injured and five police vehicles trashed at an illegal party attended by 150 people in Longsight, Manchester this week.
Police broke up 39 gatherings in Greater Manchester on Thursday alone.
And a fight erupted among 100 people at a beach in Bridgend, South Wales.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said scenes from Notting Hill showed 'very unacceptable behaviour but very much less serious' than the trouble in Brixton.
The commissioner, who noted some injuries may not be reported until after the incident, suggested the number of police injuries is 'heading up to 140-odd officers, I think, in the last three weeks'.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'The police have my full support in upholding the rule of law and tackling this thuggery.'
She added: 'I want to see those responsible arrested, brought to justice and taken off our streets - before they put even more people in danger.'
Ken Marsh, of the Met Police Federation, said: 'We have got to get a grip. We need to be in control and I think we will see a more robust strategy put in place.'
Commissioner Dick came under pressure as she was accused of turning the Met into a 'laughing stock' and abandoning 'law abiding residents' to 'mob rule'.
The top officer, 59, said 140 force staff had been hurt trying to break up the outlawed gatherings which she branded 'completely utterly unacceptable'.
She said the police had managed to stop a number of the illegal music events, including one in Mitcham.
But as she vowed to crack down on illegal raves, Sadiq Khan yesterday announced £110million of police cuts - to the astonishment of the public.
It came as Mr Khan, the London Mayor, said he expected to make huge cuts to police funding due to a £493million shortfall sparked by the pandemic.
Commenting on the outbreak of illegal raves, Nigel Farage told MailOnline he fears a summer of violence after police in London were attacked.
He said: 'There is more to come. Respect for the police is gone'.
Two men set about vandalising a police car after a party in Brixton erupted into violence
Home Secretary Priti Patel described the scenes in Brixton as 'utterly vile'
An unlicensed block party can be seen in full swing with minimal to no police presence after a party in nearby Brixton ended in violent scenes the night before
A massive block party in Maida Vale took place as riot police battled hundreds of revellers with shields and truncheons while dodging missiles thrown at themIt marked the third night of unrest after raves Brixton and Notting Hill both turned violent and led to police injuries.
Senior figures, including Home Secretary Priti Patel and ex-Met Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair, condemned the disruption.
The Met pledged to put around 1,000 riot-trained officers on standby and more than 80 police vans on the streets that weekend.
Devon and Cornwall Police put out a dispersal notice following a mass brawl involving 200 people in Exmouth.
In Cheshire, police vowed to crack down on a planned rave in Knutsford while Staffordshire officers warned potential revellers to 'pause and think'.
A dispersal order was in place in Liverpool after rowdy football fans set fire to the Liver Building as they celebrated their club's Premier League title win.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said 'consequences will follow' for those who attack officers and damage property.
She wrote in The Sun it had been a 'very difficult week' in the capital, with officers coming under attack as they tried to break up crowds.
She said: 'The officers I met this week were poised to deal with whatever they faced. Hundreds ready in full kit, should there be a violent or aggressive crowd to deal with.
'My message to those involved in thuggery and criminal damage is consequences will follow.'
Dame Cressida earlier said the force had a 'duty' to stop unlawful music events during the coronavirus pandemic.
Police were seen breaking up a huge street party in Maida Vale, London
She added: 'We have seen some large numbers of people completely flouting the health regulations, seeming not to care at all about their own or their families' health and wanting to have large parties.
'It is hot. Some people have drunk far too much. Some people are just angry and aggressive and some people are plain violent.'
Home Secretary Priti Patel told the Daily Express those who attack police 'will be taken off our streets'.
Coronavirus R rate has crept above one again in London and is still above the dreaded number in the South West as SAGE claims outbreak is still shrinking by 5% a day in the UK
By Connor Boyd, Health Reporter for MailOnline
The coronavirus R rate has crept above one again in London and is still above the dreaded number in the South West - but SAGE has claimed Britain's outbreak is still shrinking by up to 5 per cent a day.
The Government's scientific advisory panel revealed the virus's reproduction rate - the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - is still between 0.7 and 0.9 as a whole for the UK, meaning it hasn't changed in two months.
But SAGE admitted the R could be as high as 1.1 in the South West of England, where Britons have been flocking for stay-cations to enjoy the coastline of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, and in London, where pubs have been rammed with customers after reopening earlier this month. The rate is only definitely below one in the North East and Yorkshire.
For England as a whole, the R is slightly higher than the rest of the country, with the reproduction number hovering between 0.8 and 1. Keeping the rate below one is considered key because it means the outbreak is shrinking as not everyone who catches it passes it on.
Separate SAGE data today revealed the UK's current growth rate - how the number of new cases is changing day-by-day - is between minus five and minus one per cent.
It is more confirmation the crisis is still petering out and suggests the reopening of pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and beauty salons on July 4, dubbed 'Super Saturday', has not triggered a resurgence yet. But the figures show the UK's outbreak is now be shrinking at a slightly slower speed because the growth rate has crept up from last week's rate of minus 5 per cent to minus 2 per cent per day.
Scientists said they were 'cautiously optimistic' about the data, which they say shows 'there is no indication the epidemic has gotten out of hand as a result of the easement' of lockdown. But they warned Brits 'must stay completely vigilant' because a lag in the statistics means it is at least two weeks behind and it could take until next week for any spike to become visible.
Other data released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the coronavirus outbreak in England isn't changing in size and 1,700 people are still catching the illness every day. And Britain today announced 114 more coronavirus deaths, taking the seven-day average to 82 - 10 per cent higher than last week.
It comes after Boris Johnson today urged all workers to return to offices in August as he set out his timetable for life in the UK to return to normal by Christmas. In a Downing Street press conference, he revealed restrictions on the use of public transport in England are being dropped immediately with trips on the train and bus to no longer be viewed as the option of last resort.
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