London riots: calm returns to Havering

The streets of Havering have returned to near-normality today, as an uneasy post-riot calm descends on London.

Most bars and shops in the borough’s town centres returned to their usual opening hours last night, following early-closures on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - although shopping areas remained quieter than usual.

A beefed-up police force of around 250 officers and PCSOs will continue to patrol the borough every evening until at least Tuesday, when the situation will be reviewed, Havering’s top police officer chief superintendant Mick Smith said.

A spokesman for Havering Police said: “We had no riot-related trouble in the past two nights, and in fact crime generally is lower than normal, probably because we have more officers out on the streets.”

The fire crews reported no incidents locally over the past two nights.

There has been one arrest over the worst of the violent disorder seen in Romford on Monday night, when Debenhams department store was attacked by a gang of around 30 hooded youths.

An 11-year-old boy, from Romford - one of the country’s youngest looters - has admitted burglary.

There were other incidents of low-level vandalism and disturbance on Tueaday night and a “small number” of associated arrests, said a police spokesman

A police spokesman said images of others involved in local thuggery on Monday and Tuesday nights will be available to the public soon.

Anyone with information should contact the Major Incident Room on: 020 8345 4142 or 101.

In an emergency always call 999.