Liver Building chaos condemned by police
Merseyside chief constable and Liverpool FC issue joint statement amid more unrest on the streets
THE Liverpool-supporting chief constable of Merseyside has condemned fans who set the Liver Building on fire with flares and caused mayhem while celebrating their Premier League win.
Fifteen people were arrested as police officers faced violent confrontations on a night that saw lockdown chaos across Britain.
It came amid continuing tension between large crowds and police around the country as officers tried to control and disperse street parties in London, Manchester and Essex.
In scenes described as “unacceptable” by Liverpool Football Club, huge crowds gathered on the Pier Head in the city, launching fireworks, throwing bottles at police and celebrating wildly.
Chief Constable Andy Cooke, said CCTV was being examined to identify those responsible for criminal or antisocial behaviour and urged fans to wait until it was safe to celebrate the club’s first league title in 30 years.
He said the actions of a minority were “not only irresponsible, but criminal”, adding: “Children and families were present alongside others and heavy-handed police intervention was therefore not appropriate at the time.
“My officers were subjected to a number of violent confrontations. This is not acceptable.”
Police have been granted more power to disperse crowds over the weekend after hundreds of fans descended on the city centre to celebrate in defiance of social-distancing rules.
Merseyside Police issued a section 34 dispersal order, allowing officers to break up groups of more than two people until today.
In a joint statement yesterday, Liverpool Football Club, Merseyside Police and Liverpool city council also condemned the behaviour of some fans.
It said: “Our city is still in a public health crisis and this behaviour is wholly unacceptable.
“The potential danger of a second peak of Covid-19 still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don’t undo everything that has been achieved as a region during lockdown.”
LFC and the council added: “When it is safe to do so, we will all work together to arrange a victory parade when everyone can come together to celebrate. Until that time, the safety of our city and our people continues to be our number one priority.”
Liverpool fans had been urged by Joe Anderson, the city’s mayor, and the council to stay home to celebrate the title victory, but thousands took to the streets for a second evening to party.
Four fire engines were sent to the Liver Building, where they put out a blaze on a balcony caused by a flare.
Crowds in front of the building were heard cheering when one flare scored a direct hit, setting the balcony on fire and a video appeared to show glass bottles being thrown at police.
A police spokesman said there had been “significant disorder” overnight and by yesterday morning the area had been left littered with hundreds of bottles, food containers and mounds of discarded rubbish.
Police in London spent a third night trying to break up illegal gatherings and arrested seven people, as the capital’s most senior officer vowed to shut down events that flout regulations.
Two officers were injured after police were called to a “block party” in west London on Friday night after complaints from residents.
Crowds of young people in Kensal Rise initially refused to leave after officers were called at about 3pm following reports gathering.
Police said that a section 60 order, which gives officers the power to search people when they believe that serious violence will take place, was authorised in the vicinity until 6am yesterday after bottles and other objects were thrown at officers.
Police were also called to a report of a large gathering of people setting up a sound system in Newham, east London, on Friday evening.
Officers dispersed the crowd and a man was arrested for possession of a firearm.
Around 300 people attended an unlicensed music event in Kingston riverside and town centre on Friday night, with more than 50 police officers called to the area to disperse the group.
‘The danger of a second peak of Covid-19 still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don’t undo everything we have achieved’