3,000 extra cops patrolling London for Guy Fawkes Night
AN EXTRA 3,000 cops are being drafted in this week to deal with yob violence leading up to Thursday’s Bonfire Night. An extra 1,800 police and 1,900 support officers from community Neighbourhood teams are being deployed across, Scotland Yard confirmed last night
AN EXTRA 3,000 cops are being drafted in this week to deal with yob violence leading up to Thursday's Bonfire Night.
An extra 1,800 police and 1,900 support officers from community Neighbourhood teams are being deployed across London to deal with street gangs in one of the busiest weeks of the year for the emergency services, Scotland Yard confirmed last night.
All leave for Neighbourhood teams has already been cancelled since Hallowe'en Night on Saturday and will last up to the end of Thursday night (November 5) to deal with the expected 'peak' in youth violence.
Met Police Commander Mark Simmons said: "Street crime and anti-social behaviour rises this time of year, which is totally unacceptable.
"But we are not out to 'demonise' teenagers. It is only a minority who cause misery for others and spoil the fun for the public."
East London has always been hit with Guy Fawkes mayhem with the six fire-stations in Tower Hamlets being the busiest in London. The over-stretched crews at Bethnal Green, Bow, Millwall, Poplar, Shadwell and Whitechapel have often come under attack in previous years from youths hurling missiles when firefighters turn up to deal with blazes out of control.
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Scotland Yard's tactical taskforce is being diverted this year to areas like the East End which may need support to target street gangs and thugs who carry weapons. Pubs and other licensed premises also face being shut down where police fear trouble.
The Met is hoping to repeat last year's 'get tough' operation when robberies fell by 22 per cent and violent attacks by 12 per cent in the 15 days between October 23 and November 7, compared to the same period the previous year.
