Fifteen people are arrested after large group of youths ‘became aggressive towards police’

Fifteen people have been arrested after a female PC was punched in the head as police clashed with a gang of youths in a quiet seaside town.

Officers were called at around 10.30pm on Saturday to reports of a man damaging a car in Shoreham, West Sussex. 

Police initially attempted to arrest a suspect following the incident in Upper Shoreham Road, but a ‘large group of youths descended on the area’. 

The arrests, 13 of whom are aged between 14 and 17 years old, were made for offences including assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder.

All of those arrested have been taken to custody, Sussex Police said, and a dispersal order has been issued for Shoreham town centre until midnight on Monday preventing large groups of young people from congregating in the area.

Chief Inspector Nick Bowman said: ‘This behaviour, and the violence towards police officers going about their duty, is totally unacceptable and we are appealing for any independent witnesses to come forward.

‘Fortunately, our officers did not suffer any serious injuries in the incident, but we will not tolerate attacks such as this on emergency workers.

‘Everyone, including parents and guardians, has a responsibility to ensure children and young people are following the current guidelines, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

Mr Bowman added: ‘We are keen to hear from anyone who saw the incident, in particular anyone who may have any video footage on their mobile phones.’

Anyone with any information can contact police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 1690 of 11/07.

It came as last night there were illegal raves in London with police dispersing a large gathering in South Norwood Country Park.

Another large gathering at Burgess Park in Camberwell, south-east London saw officers and a helicopter used to disperse ravers. 

Police launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed to death at the Black Prince Estate in Kennington, south London, shortly after 10pm on Saturday, where a 30-year-old man was found with stab wounds.

The London Ambulance Service also attended but, despite the efforts of paramedics and police, the man died at the scene.

His family have been informed and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

A short time later, a 26-year-old man took himself to hospital with stab wounds, which police believe were sustained in the same incident.

His injuries have been assessed as not life-threatening. No arrests have been made.

There were also reports of a stabbing in west Norwood with police and ambulance at the scene. 

The disorder comes after London was rocked by three stabbings in the space of ten hours as blood poured onto the capital’s streets following the easing of lockdown.

Separate attacks on Friday saw a young man killed in Poplar, a police officer knifed in Hendon and another man left fighting for his life after an assault in Haringey.

Police were called to Alexia Square, Poplar in east London shortly after 6pm and found a man believed to have been in his late teens or early 20s with stab wounds.  

Despite emergency services carrying out first aid the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second man, believed to be in his late teens, was rushed to hospital by London Ambulance Service.

The attack came less than five hours after a police officer was stabbed chasing a man suspected of having a knife.

Scotland Yard said officers were called at around 1.15pm to reports of a man seen in possession of a knife in Hendon Way, north-west London.

After tracking down the suspect, the man fled from officers who gave chase and one was stabbed in the arm, the force added.

The man was then tasered and arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, it added.

Police said the man was also taken to hospital as a precaution.

Later, at around 10.40pm Friday, another man was knifed in Westbury Avenue, Haringey.

The 23-year-old has been taken to hospital where his condition has been assessed as critical. 

There has been no arrest at this stage.