POLICE APPEAL FOR BOXING DAY FIGHT WITNESSES
Bromley Police and the Safer Bromley Partnership are appealing for any further eyewitness accounts of a fight that broke out in intu Bromley on Boxing Day.
Borough commander Chris Hafford said: “Police responded rapidly to the incident and two youths have already been arrested and charged. “We are working closely with the security team at the centre and have very good CCTV images, but further information in helping to identify the remaining three youths is always welcome.”
A fight broke out in a shop between two small groups of young people from another borough. Weapons produced during the fight were retrieved by police following the incident.
A Bromley council spokeswoman said: “Though an isolated and extremely unusual incident in the centre of Bromley, it caused shoppers concern as initially they had no idea what was happening.”
Borough commander Chris Hafford said: “This was an unfortunate one-off incident which ended up causing some distress for shoppers.
“Bromley is not a designated ‘gangs borough’, however, a recent Home Office peer review identified that, in common with many other places around the country, we are experiencing emerging gang issues.
“We are working with the council and other key partners to take action to keep our borough the safe and pleasant place it has always been. “If you are concerned about anything in your neighbourhood, please do get in touch through 101, or 999 for emergencies.”
Bromley’s executive member for public protection and safety Cllr Kate Lymer said: “I want to reassure residents and shoppers that this was an isolated incident, nothing to do with terrorism, and involved young people from outside the borough fighting amongst themselves.
“Nonetheless, I can appreciate it was undoubtedly alarming for those who were there at the time.”
(Source: Bromley council press release)
