Disorder in Woolwich as police tackle groups in town centre
There have been incidents of disorder in Woolwich town centre tonight as police attempted to tackle over 50 people in the town centre.
UPDATE: Police have tweeted about a number of arrests:
This weekend we were disappointed to see some individuals acting in an extremely anti-social manner. We have dealt with those appropriately, including a number of arrests for possession of fireworks under 18 years, possession of a taser, assault on emergency workers and affray.
— Woolwich Riverside (@MPSWoolwichRiv) November 1, 2021
It’s reported one person waiting for a bus suffered injuries.
Fireworks have been fired at members of the public and into shops on regular occasions recently.
Police have tonight attempted to disperse groups near Woolwich Arsenal station and the covered market, with fireworks being launched at officers and others.
They appear outnumbered and after the injured person was treated, police left the scene and it has started up again.
There is no word of arrests at the moment.
It’s embarrassing that the police have had to call on the council to fence off the entire town square in an attempt to deal with this. Why should everyone else be deprived of their main public space just because the police are short-staffed?
A message to Greenwich Council: please remove those fences and don’t resort to this again.
If it is due to that it’s a stupid thing to do.
You shouldn’t deprive everyone of a civic space due to this, and it hasn’t worked anyway.
Blocking off the square is a great idea, it’s only for a few days and I heard less chaos last night on he eve of Halloween, compared to last year. Tonight will be the true test.