Monday night saw the worst and most widespread rioting in current memory, as trouble spread across the UK to affect Birmingham and Merseyside.
The Metropolitan Police responded with the largest policing operation so far, with approximately 2,500 officers in addition to 3,500 officers already on boroughs. The Met also received aid from other forces, and used armoured vehicles to support officers on the ground to clear areas of trouble.
Two hundred arrests were also made overnight, bringing the total number of people arrested up to 450 across the three nights. This has lead to all MPS cells being full, and prisoners being taken to surrounding forces.

A statement released by the Met said: 'Those involved in criminality should be under no illusion that we will pursue you. We have been making arrests all evening and have a team working during the night examining CCTV images. We will follow up evidence in the coming days in order to bring anyone else responsible for criminal acts to justice.
'Disturbing levels of violence were directed at officers again, leading to 44 being injured last night, which included an officer being driven at resulting in broken bones, and another officer receiving an eye injury that is likely to need surgery (separate incident).
'Fourteen members of the public were also hurt, including a man in his 60s who has life-threatening head injuries. Over the last 24 hr period, we have taken almost 400 per cent more 999 calls than normal - 5,400 emergency 999 calls normally compared to almost 20,800.
Trident has launched an investigation after a 26 year old man was found with a gun shot wound in Croydon. He is currently in hospital in a serious condition.
'Officers and staff continue to work long hours at short notice in very challenging circumstances.
We continue to have the plans and resources in place to respond to any further disorder, deal with normal policing across the city and keep Londoners safe.'

 

Posted August 09 at 12.25 by Phil. Comment by emailing: philip.mason@pavpub.com