Clashes broke out between police and revellers as London was blighted by a string of illegal block parties for the third night running , despite warnings that the gatherings are flouting health regulations.
Around 100 officers were forced to break up a huge gathering in west London, while another two illegal events were halted by police in other parts of the capital, days after 22 officers were injured at a huge block party in south London.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick admitted it had been a “very difficult few weeks” of lockdown easing in the city, with officers coming under attack as they tried to break up crowds.
She also warned that the force had a “duty” to stop unlawful music events during the Covid-19 pandemic and would be “on the lookout” for those who were being "reckless". “Big street parties are illegal and reckless. These events should not be happening,” she said.
In one of the latest incidents, officers were called to an unlicensed music event on Harrow Road, in west London, at about 3pm on Friday.
Clashes broke out as people there refused to leave when asked, with footage posted on social media showing scores of young people in a standoff with officers in riot equipment outside a block of flats.
In the video, projectiles are seen being thrown at the line of officers, as one swings his baton at a group standing under a gazebo. Another video appears to show officers being prevented from entering the melee by revellers. A man shouts: “You’re not coming in.”
A Met spokesman said in an update given at about 6.30am on Saturday that there were no known arrests.
A section 60 order granting police additional stop and search powers had been granted overnight until 6am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a Twitter account for officers in Newham, east London, said they were called to Hoskins Close shortly before 5pm on Friday to a report of a large gathering of people who were setting up a sound system.
Officers dispersed the crowd and after remaining at the scene discovered and seized a firearm. A man was arrested for possession of a firearm, police said.
Elsewhere, reports indicated officers were also called on to try to disperse a gathering on Riverton Close, in west London, on Friday night.
On Wednesday, 22 police officers were injured when an unlicensed street party in Brixton, south London, descended into violence .
The following night, officers sent to break up another gathering in Notting Hill, west London, were pelted with objects as they tried to disperse the crowd .
Following the violence and other illegal gatherings in Streatham and Tottenham, Commissioner Dick said thousands of officers were being deployed across the capital to target unlicensed events.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Saturday, Met Police commander Bas Javid said officers were “doing a very good job in some difficult circumstances”.
He said policing efforts were focused on “building relationships” with local communities, with the majority of interactions with police at events being “positive”.
“We’re not going to arrest our way out of the situations like this, but what I can be clear about is if these situations do descend into chaos and violence and disorder, which is completely unacceptable, we will take a much more thorough and a robust position,” he warne
He added: “It’s the communities that are very, very upset by this, as much as the police are. This is much more about the impact it’s having on those communities that these people live in.”
Dame Cressida has also warned that “consequences will follow” for those who attack officers and damage property.
In her Sun article, 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.”
Former Met Police commissioner Lord Blair said there needed to be a “public conversation” about the amount of violence being directed towards police in recent weeks, including at Black Lives Matter protests.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme said: “It cannot be right that this level of injury to officers is seen as acceptable.”
Meanwhile in Liverpool, police have been granted more power to disperse crowds after part of the Liver Building caught fire amid celebrations over the city’s Premier League triumph.
Merseyside Police issued a section 34 dispersal order for the city centre, allowing officers to break up groups of more than two people, until Sunday.
The force has urged fans to put “safety first” and save their celebrations for when they may be permitted in the future.
In a statement about the incident on Harrow Road, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police are responding to an unlicensed music event on Harrow Road, W9. Officers were called to the location around 3pm following concerns from residents.
“Officers engaged with the attendees, who refused to leave the location. The police helicopter is also assisting.
“Following engagement within the local community we are hopeful that crowds are dispersing. No arrests at this stage."
“A section 60 has been authorised in the vicinity until 6am on Saturday, 27 June. Officers will remain in the area in order to provide reassurance.”