On Tuesday, I was walking from my home in Clapham towards the Common, as I do most evenings, when I encountered a large crowd of young people – nearly all wearing puffer jackets and face coverings. Their presence was menacing enough that I changed my route and hoped that they would have dispersed by the time I returned later that evening.  

Unfortunately, not. By this point 300 teenagers had descended on the Common as part of an Easter holiday ‘link up’ organised online. The police later said they made several arrests after ‘anti-social behaviour and stealing from a number of businesses on Clapham High Street.’ A similar mob gathered in Birmingham on Friday.

As I approached M&S, the recently opened jewel of Clapham High Street, its entrance was guarded by police officers. I was told that it had been forced to close because of mass looting. Sainsbury’s was also guarded by officers and was closed, along with all the shops on the High Street, probably for the rest of the evening. I couldn’t find a single open shop.

We are in an unfortunate situation if hundreds of youths are able to dominate a high street in our capital city, shoplift fragrantly and commit generalised disorder without fear of punishment

We are in an unfortunate situation if hundreds of youths are able to dominate a high street in our capital city, shoplift fragrantly and commit generalised disorder without fear of........

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