Children under 16 have been banned from entering a shopping centre without adults after four officers were injured in a brawl with a gang of youths earlier this year. The Glades shopping centre in Bromley took the stern decision following an incident in April in which four police officers got hurt when they attempted to disperse a large group of youths.
Under the new rules which will come into force from July 28, children under 16 will not be able to enter the shopping centre, unless accompanied by an adult.
A letter was sent to the schools explaining the rationale behind the decision.
Also, as part of the new rules face coverings and balaclavas will also be banned with anyone wearing them asked to leave the centre.
In order to enforce the new rules security guards will be stationed at all entrances to the shopping centre from 11am every day, reported MyLondon.
Following the incident in April, the four injured police officers had been attempting to break up the group as they “anticipated that incidents involving violence may take place”. None of them received life-threatening injuries in the incident.
Immediately after the brawl the centre banned unaccompanied under 16s from entering during May half-term holidays, with this policy reintroduced.
In April footage showed cops running towards a group of teenagers outside a Marks and Spencer store before the clip suddenly cut out.
A separate video shows two girls fighting inside a clothing store as a man tries to break them apart, while screams and cheers ring out from youths filming the incident on their phones.
One person, who appeared to be at the scene, commented on social media: “Just after this must have happened in Zara, a lot of them were proudly showing off the girl’s hair that had just ripped out her head, like it was some sort of trophy.”
The Met said in a statement in April: “Police were called at 15.07hrs on Friday, 31 March to reports of disorder at The Glades, Bromley.
“Officers attended. At the scene a large group of youths were inside the shopping centre behaving in an anti-social manner and refusing to disperse. Officers also anticipated that incidents involving violence may take place.
“During dispersal of the group four officers sustained injuries. Those injuries are not life-threatening. Five youths were arrested for assault on police and affray. They were taken to a south London Police station where they remain at this time.
“One youth was arrested for breaching a dispersal order.”
