Police are bracing for more violence and disorder this weekend as illegal raves have broken out across London today for a third night running.
A massive block party in West Kilburn took place yesterday afternoon as riot police battled hundreds of revellers with shields and truncheons.
Helicopters were circling overhead earlier, while the crowds ‘refused to leave the location’ after officers first engaged with them at 3pm.
The majority of revellers at the West Kilburn ‘block party’ are thought to have later marched through London to take part in a rave in Maida Vale.
After raves in Brixton and Notting Hill this week turned violent and led to police injuries, officers are preparing for more trouble this weekend.
The Met have pledged to put around 1,000 riot-trained officers on standby and more than 80 police vans on the streets of London today.
It comes after a week of disorder following multiple illegal parties held during the June mini-heatwave – in which temperatures have soared to 90F.
Riot police with shields broke up an illegal party at Maida Vale, west London tonight
Police speaking with revellers as illegal raves break out across the UK this week
Revellers packed Maida Vale after a crowd marched from a party in West Kilburn yesterday
Police speaking with revellers wearing face masks as illegal raves break out across the UK
Police are bracing for more violence and disorder this weekend as illegal raves have broken out across London today for a third night running
Video footage shows a massive party in West Kilburn as police battled revellers with shields and truncheons while loud music blared
Disorder broke out at a rave in Colville Gardens, Notting Hill in the early hours of yesterday – just 24 hours after a ‘mini riot’ broke out in Brixton.
On Wednesday night 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.
Riot police with shields breaking up an illegal rave in Maida Vale, west London today
A massive block party in West Kilburn took place this afternoon 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 yesterday 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 give 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 last night.
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’ this week
An unlicensed block party can be seen in full swing on Thursday night with minimal to no police presence after a party in nearby Brixton ended in violent scenes the night before