And these are the people who DIDN’T stay home
And these are the people who DIDN’T stay home: Three people are hurt in London’s first stabbings of 2021 – while revellers pack illegal raves, drink on streets and hold anti-lockdown march in the capital
- Two men were stabbed and a woman suffered head injuries as tempers flared on Edgware Road this morning
- Met Police confirmed all three people were taken to hospital, a woman has been arrested on suspicion of GBH
- Up to 70 people are said to have filled the street following a suspected illegal rave in London’s West End
- Revellers were also seen gathering in parts of Nottingham, along with Kensington and Chingford in London
- Anti-lockdown protest attended by Piers Corbyn was broken up by police as hundreds marched on the capital
Three people were taken to hospital after a gang stabbing on the streets of London this morning – as people across Britain refused to stick to the ‘stay at home’ New Year rules.
The knife attack was the worst of several incidents of disorder, which also saw anti-lockdown protesters clash with police along London’s Southbank and illegal ravers pack into a pub in Chingford – on the edge of East London and Essex.
Elsewhere police were forced to disperse crowds that had gathered in Kensington, West London, as well as in Nottingham and Leeds, as the country counted down to the start of 2021.
The condition of two men stabbed in London – and a woman found nearby with head injuries – was not known this morning.
Trouble flared minutes after midnight as rival gangs squared up to each other on Edgware Road, near Marble Arch in the capital’s West End, as an illegal rave spilled onto the streets.
Meanwhile Essex Police handed out more than £18,000 worth of fines last night and arrested three people after being called out to parties and unlicensed events.
Two people were taken to hospital with stab wounds after two gangs allegedly clashed on Edgware Road, central London, just after midnight on New Year’s Day
Metropolitan Police said they were called to the scene in West London by the London Fire Brigade after reports of a stabbing
Dozens of people are said to have lined the streets in Edgware Road early on Friday morning amid reports of an illegal rave
Despite strict orders to stay at home, crowds gathered along London’s Southbank to watch this year’s fireworks display. While others attended a nearby protest against lockdown rules
In the aftermath of the disturbances, a photographer working for MailOnline was knocked unconscious while taking pictures near police officers yards from the homes of the rich and famous including Tony Blair and Claudia Winkleman.
As he recovered, he told MailOnline: ‘We got there and there were lots of armed police. Big armed police cars were zooming past us – we counted 11. There must be 100-and-something police there at least, a lot of them heavily armed.’
He said as he worked, a man approached him and punched him.
‘As I hit the floor, six or seven officers rushed to me and then apparently six or seven more caught the guy who did it,’ he said. ‘He was arrested on the scene.’
The experienced photojournalist said he counted around 60 or 70 suspected gang members present on the street after the initial stabbings had taken place.
Police said they were called by colleagues in the London Fire Brigade to reports of a stabbing on Edgware Road.
A spokesman said: ‘Officers attended the scene, with the London Ambulance Service and [the air ambulance]. Two males were identified with stab injuries. Both men were taken to hospital.
‘A woman was also located at the scene suffering with a head injury, she has been taken to hospital.’ He added: ‘One woman has been arrested for GBH and taken to a police station.’
Hundreds of people were caught partying across Essex as police broke up events including one at an abandoned warehouse in Brentwood, another at a conservation-run church in Thorndon Park and a third a house party in Sewardstonebury, near Epping Forest.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: ‘I’d like to firstly thank everyone across Essex who stayed at home and did the right thing last night.
‘You’re protecting our NHS and you’ve allowed us to attend a large number of callouts across the county, including arresting three people on suspicion of murder in Rayleigh following the tragic death of a man in Worcester Road.
The banks of the River Thames would usually be packed for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, instead police were forced disperse revellers last night amid Covid-19 restrictions
Police officers were seen confiscating champagne and glasses from some revellers who had gathered in the capital yesterday
Revellers were out in London throughout last night, with officers, including some on horseback, ready to deal with anyone flouting lockdown rules
Despite police attempts to disperse crowds, revellers were seen laughing and joking as they ushered in the New Year
Police in Essex broke up house parties and raves, including one in an abandoned warehouse in Brentwood on Thursday night
Essex Police issued £18,000 worth of fines and arrested five people after carrying out New Year’s Eve raids across the county overnight
Three people were injured in Edgware Road as police, joined by paramedics and firefighters, responded to a night of violence
Crowds gathered around the London Eye – despite rising Covid-19 infections and warnings that the country could face a national lockdown this month
In Nottingham, small crowds gathered in Market Square as clocks struck midnight. The city is currently under Tier 4 measures
While signs warned Nottingham visitors to enjoy a ‘safe’ Christmas, crowds gathered to mark the end of 2021. Those living under Tier 4 restrictions are expected to stay at home except for essential journeys
‘Unfortunately, there were others who decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people.
‘We’ve seized their equipment, arrested five people, and issued a large number of fines to those who think this behaviour is acceptable.
‘We need you to keep yourselves, other people, and the NHS, safe. Thank you again to everyone who spent their New Year’s Eve in a responsible, legal, way. ‘Stay safe, Essex.’
Back in London, dozens of people were found gathering in Chadwell Heath, while another rave was busted at a warehouse in London’s Royal Docks.
Some revellers were determined to party despite the threat of £10,000 fines and repeated warnings about the dangers of spreading the virus.
Police say 60 partygoers were found at an unlicensed music event in Kemp Road, Chadwell Heath, on New Year’s Eve.
Officers dispersed the crowd and handed a £10,000 fine to the organiser of the rave.
Newham Police said that a ‘large unlicensed music event’ was shut down by officers and a number of arrests were made at a warehouse in Royal Docks.
Commander Paul Brogden, who was in charge of the Met’s policing of New Year’s Eve, said: ‘We’ve been called to a number of parties and unlicensed music events across London this evening.
‘Officers have attended and encouraged people to go home.
‘Enforcement will continue to be taken where necessary.’
He added: ‘I would like to thank the majority of London for staying at home and complying with the regulations.
‘In doing so, you’re keeping yourselves and others safe.’
Police in Liverpool managed to prevent a gathering after organisers shared details of the event online.
Merseyside Police introduced a dispersal zone for the Pier Head and areas of Liverpool city centre to stop people gathering last night after a post was circulated on social media encouraging people to meet near the Liver Building to party together.
On the post, organisers said: ‘F*** Tier 3. Liverpool Pier Head tonight.’
Officers in Norfolk spotted another event as scores of youngsters began making their way to the event on Hall Road in the village of Ludham, Norfolk, as the countdown to midnight began.
Generators and other equipment for the music was seized, and motorists were told to avoid the area as police officers dispersed the gathering crowds of ravers and shut down the rave before it could begin.
A Norfolk police spokeswoman said ‘As cases of coronavirus rise across the county, officers will continue to take firm action against these kinds of gatherings, which breach public health regulations, including the use of fines.’
There were revellers out in Kensington, West London, last night, as two people were spotted stopping for a selfie on their way out for New Year’s Eve
Metropolitan Police descended on a property in Kensington last night after an alleged illegal party was said to have taken place
London was placed under Tier 4 measures on December 20, but revellers were seen out and about across the capital last night, including in Kensington
Four police vans were called out to a home in Kensington overnight on a busy night for officers across the capital, which saw protests and illegal raves take place
There was violence in Edgware Road, London overnight, with blood stains still visible on the street in the early hours of this morning
It is alleged that an illegal rave was taking place in a building on Edgware Road and that as many as 70 alleged gang members had spilled out onto the street
A woman was also found at the scene by emergency services suffering from a head injury, while a second woman was arrested on suspicion of GBH
Pubs may be shut in Leeds, but young people were ready to head out to the shops to make sure they were stocked up to see the back of 2020
Revellers in Nottingham ushered in the New Year with a glass of prosecco in the city’s Market Square, despite Tier 4 restrictions
While there were scenes of violence in London, crowds were seen gathering in Nottingham Market Square last night
People in Nottingham were seen smoking and laughing, while some chose to wear masks in the final hours of 2020
Despite dozens of people gathering in Nottingham, just one police car could be seen monitoring activity around Market Square
Met Police officers on horseback were dispatched on the banks of the River Thames in order to disperse crowds from London
The entrance to luxury apartments on Edgware Road was cordoned off this morning after dozens of people lined the street
Forensic officers were out checking bins on Edgware Road after two men were stabbed and a woman suffered head injuries
Witnesses in Edgware Road last night reported seeing up to 70 people gathered in the street before three people were injured
Police were called out to Edgware Road around 00.32am this morning after reports of a stabbing, with parts of the street cordoned off during investigations
London Ambulance Service paramedics rushed two men and one woman to hospital after they suffered stab wounds and a head injury in Edgware Road
The events came as rule-breakers defied instructions to stay home on New Year’s Eve and headed out on to the streets.
Piers Corbyn, the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against the restrictions on a march along London’s Southbank.
Pictures show the 73-year-old being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest.
Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone.
Meanwhile others pressed ahead with party plans and flouted rules by toasting in 2021 with a large group of friends.
Crowds were seen gathering on the Southbank, near the London Eye, to catch a glimpse of last night’s fireworks display.
Witnesses saw police confiscating alcohol as people looked to celebrate the end of the year.
Leeds remains in Tier 3, but revellers were still seen gathering last night in Headling to celebrate the final hours of 2020
Groups of young men were seen gathering on the streets of Leeds last night as the city remained in Tier 3 lockdown meaures
In Leeds, some braved the cold weather and were pictured on the streets clutching bottles of wine and crates of beer
Piers Corbyn was hugged by a fellow lockdown protester on the banks of the River Thames last night, as other drank to celebrate the New Year
A photographer working for MailOnline, who was knocked out by a man while taking pictures of the incident, claims that hundreds of officers were dealing with the incident, ‘a lot of them heavily armed’
Social media footage purportedly from Chingford, east London, shows at least 30 revellers packed into a venue decorated with balloons and blaring loud music.
The booze-fuelled event saw guests cram together on a dance floor with Champagne flutes.
People scolded the alleged flouting. ‘Shameful,’ said one. ‘Prime example of how to spread Covid,’ said another.
Most public places typically brimming with crowds lay eerily deserted – and usual hotspots such as Trafalgar Square were even boarded up to prevent people congregating.
But in Leeds, some braved the cold weather and were pictured on the streets clutching bottles of wine and crates of beer.
On London’s Southbank, police were forced to deal with an anti-lockdown protest attended by the likes of Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
Police officers detain a man at the anti-lockdown protest on the South Bank, London, during the night
Pictures show 73-year-old Piers Corbyn being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest on London’s Southbank
Piers Corbyn (pictured middle), the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against restrictions during a march along the River Thames last night
Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone
Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, speaks to a crowd at an anti-lockdown protest in the capital overnight
Police on horses were seen patrolling the streets of London during the night to ensure people followed Tier 4 rules
Ahead of last night, police chiefs warned they would be prepared to take action against rule-breakers.
Scotland Yard tweeted: ‘We are at a critical point in this pandemic. We would urge everyone to celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes. If people insist on gathering and breaching regulations, then officers will shut them down and enforcement action will be taken.’
The maximum fine for breaking coronavirus restrictions is £10,000 for the most egregious breaches.
