Police face two fronts on virus and violence
OVERSTRETCHED police trying to enforce new Covid regulations face extra strain with a wave of violence.
Five people were shot
– two of them reportedly by a sub-machine gun – within hours in Brixton, south London, on Friday night.
Two others were shot and stabbed at an illegal rave in Hackney in the early hours of yesterday.
A fifth man was shot at close range in West Croydon at 1.40am yesterday.
Two men aged 30 and 31 have been arrested in connection with the
Hackney incident.
Just a day earlier a police officer received a head injury attending a street fight as up to 200 people gathered at an Eid festival in Ilford, east London.
Force leaders fear tensions are further building due to the way the Government is handling the pandemic.
Ministers announced new lockdown rules in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire, and parts ofwestyorkshire on Thursday hours before the religious festival Eid began. Celebrations, which run until tomorrow, were ruined when households were banned from meeting each other inside homes and private gardens.
Westyorkshire Police Federation chairman Brian Booth said: “It is an absolute nonsense that we as the police service have not been afforded the time to put things in place prior to an announcement.”
Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable
Nick Bailey said the news was upsetting for Muslim communities and officers would enforce guidelines “with understanding and compassion”.
But Lancashire Police Federation chairwoman Rachel Hanley said: “Parts of the new regulations will be difficult if not almost impossible to enforce.
“Sadly I fear it will once again be the already stretched police service taking the brunt of people’s frustrations.”
Yesterday Metropolitan Police chiefs restricted an Afrikan Emancipation Day rally to a designated area in Brixton and said crowds must disperse after 8pm. It comes as the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said riots could sweep the country unless authorities reduce tensions over Covid-19 lockdowns.
A man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and assaulting an emergency worker after the fight between two groups at the Ilford Eid party.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman of the Met’s East Area Command said: “That this size of gathering has taken place
‘A nonsense we had no warning’ ‘Attack beyond unacceptable’
during a pandemic is concerning. I remind all of our communities to respect each other and ensure that the Government guidelines around social distancing are followed.
“Following a work day of protecting the public one of my officers has had to return home to his family with a head injury.
“This is beyond unacceptable. Anyone assaulting an officer in the course will be arrested and placed before the courts.”