A security guard at a Marks and Spencer store in Clapham said he was forced to lock shoppers inside as large groups of young people caused mayhem on the high street for the second time in days. The incident on Tuesday evening came just days after dozens of teenagers stormed shops and clashed with police on Saturday.
Mohammed, the security guard, told the Daily Mail: “Police warned us there would be chaos so we prepared for it because of what happened last Saturday. There were loads of kids sprinting and shouting and police advised all the shops to close for one hour.” He added that the supermarket decided to close for the day, but some shoppers remained inside.
“We had to lock shoppers in, at 8.15pm we let them out one by one with police and security holding the doors shut and escorting them out,” he said. “Shoppers were very scared. There was one lady with a pram and a baby. She was terrified but police escorted her to safety.”
The mob also targeted a nearby Boots store “very badly” and a local Waitrose displayed a “police advised” closure notice. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers were responding to reports of a large crowd of young people causing anti-social behaviour, and a dispersal order was in place. Two teenage girls were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
Footage shared online showed large groups gathering outside a McDonald’s, and there were reports of families barricaded inside a Sainsbury’s and attempts to start fires on Clapham Common. The Met said tackling shoplifting and anti-social behaviour remains a priority, with a 44 per cent increase in arrests last year.
