Live updates: Reaction after huge fight in Uxbridge leaves town centre 'on lockdown'

Boris Johnson statement

Following call to BCU Commander re yesterday’s incident in Uxbridge, pleased to receive further update - @MPSHillingdon has carried out extensive work with schools and Council to ensure no further incidents in Uxbridge this evening. An arrest made but the investigation continues.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 11, 2018

Bishop Ramsey School confirms a "very small number" of their students was present

A statement from Bishop Ramsey headteacher Nina Adamson said: “We are aware that a very small number of Bishop Ramsey students were present at an incident in Uxbridge on Monday evening, although the police have not contacted us.

“Bishop Ramsey School encourages students to contribute positively to the local community and has no tolerance for students bringing the school into disrepute.

“We are already dealing with it internally according to the school’s behaviour policy.”

Boris has spoken...

Boris Johnson has responded to last night’s disorder, click here to see what the MP has to say.

"Those identified will be dealt with" say police as schools warned over increased presence

Schools have received a warning from Hillingdon Police stating there will be increased presence by officers following a mass fight in the town centre.

The force also confirms it will deal with “those identified” who took part in the violence and urged school children to avoid the high street until further notice.

Read the full email sent to several schools and further information here.

New dispersal order put in place on Hayes Town

Hillingdon MPS have placed a dispersal zone on Hayes Town, in addition to the one already in effect in Uxbridge town centre.

They tweeted: “A Dispersal Zone in Hayes Town has been granted to prevent Anti-Social Behaviour and violence with injury from 1400 hours today.

“This is until 13:59 hours on 13th September 2018.”

This comes after a recent email, seen by GetWestLondon, was sent to multiple schools, including some in Hayes and Ruislip, warning of heightened police presence.

Investigation to take place at Swakeleys Girls School

In an email seen by getwestlondon the deputy head teacher of Swakeleys Girls School in Clifton Gardens, Hillingdon, confirms a full investigation will take place - with the help of police.

Read the email in full here.

Police confirm injury - but still no arrests

One injury following last night’s disorder has been confirmed by police.

It was added that an investigation is taking place into an alleged assault however no arrests have been made at this stage.

Read the full story on this matter here.

Bishopshalt students warned of 'serious consequences' for watching fights as school investigates

Bishopshalt students were warned of the “serious consequences” for watching fights as the school investigates the mass brawl.

Bishopshalt deputy head Jane King said: “We are looking into it as we speak. It’s very early days but we are working with the police and appropriate action will be taken.

“We have had an assembly in school this morning where our students have been spoken to about the serious consequences of standing round watching things like this go on.”

Harefield Academy deputy head Fiona O’Sullivan said: “We are aware that there were some disturbances in Uxbridge town centre yesterday with a range of young people involved from various schools but it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.”

GetWestLondon is still awaiting a response from Swakeleys School for Girls, The Douay Martyrs School and Oak Wood School.

Uxbridge schools respond to the incident last night

Two Uxbridge schools whose students are alleged to have participated in the fight have released statements.

Uxbridge High principal Nigel Clemens said police “have not identified any Uxbridge High School students as being involved at this time.”

A spokeswoman from Uxbridge College said: “We are currently investigating whether a former student was in the immediate area at the time.”

Read the full story here.

Police officers are at Uxbridge High School

We can confirm that a police car is currently at Uxbridge High School and two officers are inside the school.

Reports that men who tried to break up the fight got “clobbered”

Men who tried to break up the fight got “clobbered” according to an eyewitness.

A Trespass employee said that an injured boy had been brought into the store by police and questioned after the fight.

He was just sort of scuffed up a bit, nothing too serious really. A couple of men tried to break up all the fights and they got clobbered pretty bad. It started further down the high street I think.”

And Cathy, who works in Card Factory, said crowds of school children started gathering from 4.30pm. She said:

“I didn’t think anything of it because it’s the high street, there are always kids. But they didn’t really leave. I guess the fighting broke out from around 5.30pm because we were still open. It was about 70 kids standing outside Boots. Someone got dragged in and they were all just trying to get in and maybe beat him up?”

Shops open in Uxbridge this morning

High street shops - including Clarks - returned to normal after the huge fight.

When the dispersal order in Uxbridge Town Centre will end

Despite social media posts, Met Police have confirmed that the dispersal order in Uxbridge town centre will last for 48 hours.

On Facebook Hillingdon MPS said: “A dispersal zone has been authorised in Uxbridge Town Centre, to prevent Anti-Social Behaviour and violence with injury.

“This has been granted by Inspector Harris and is in place from 17:40 10th September 2018 until 17:39 12th September 2018.

“Once authorised, a constable in uniform may, under circumstances, direct a person to leave the area, in whole or in part, and direct the person not to return for up to 48 hours.”

Uxbridge High School parent reaction

Uxbridge High School parent James Hunting said singling out Uxbridge High school pupils is “misleading and very damaging”.

He said:

We have had multiple text messages already from people in the community because they know our children go there and I think it’s massively unfair on the school, I really feel for them.

“This is a secondary school that works very hard. I have seen the hard work that goes on with the children and the local community.

“I don’t want people to think it’s all Uxbridge High kids or any individual school when it looks like it’s probably non-school kids at the centre of it.”

Still no arrests

Metropolitan Police have this morning confirmed that they have made no arrests - around 14 hours after the brawl broke out.

Stay tuned

Good morning.

We’ll be continuing our coverage today (Tuesday September 11) and bringing you reaction of this incident which rocked Uxbridge town centre last night.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Watch as terrifying mass fight breaks out on Uxbridge High Street

Horrific footage of the fight which took place in Uxbridge town centre between about 70 youths is being shared on social media.

The clip, which appears to have been filmed on Snapchat, shows countless young people pushing and shoving before one man falls to the ground.

Youths are captured on camera appearing to kick the unidentified man while he is on the ground, before he escapes the mass brawl and leans against a shop window, appearing to gasp for air as others surround him to try and protect him from further attack.

You can watch the video here.

Witness describes "swarm" of youths attempting to smash doors

Witnesses have described “awful” scenes to getwestlondon from tonight’s commotion which resulted in no arrests.

One passer-by claimed to see a “swarm” of youths attempting to smash a store’s door while a man was “repeatedly kicked”.

Read the full story here.

Picture from the scene

This image was taken earlier this evening showing the police presence in the area following the mass fight.

No arrests and no injuries

A Metropolitan Police spokesman has issued the following update:

Police were called to Uxbridge town centre shortly before 5.30pm on Monday, September 10, following reports of a large group of youths fighting.

Officers attended and dispersed the group. There were no arrests. No reported injuries.

Calls for naming and shaming

Members of the public have been taking to social media to share their thoughts on this evening’s chaos in Uxbridge town centre - including calls for naming and shaming.

17-year-old witnessed crowds "stamping on each other" outside Clarks shoe shop

Another anonymous resident told getwestlondon how his 17-year-old daughter witnessed a fight outside Clarks shoe shop in Uxbridge High Street at around 5.45pm.

He said:

My daughter went with a friend to Uxbridge, she said as they were about to go into Primark her friend had bumped into someone she knew who said there was a fight but it was all over.

So off they went into Primark but when they came out she said there were two girls arguing with a group around them. As they started fighting the group was shouting ‘stand back stand back’.

Then she said all of a sudden they were all fighting, stamping on each other. She said it was awful.

Recap

This is everything we know so far about the “chaos” in Uxbridge town centre this evening.

• Reports of a violent commotion first emerged at around 6pm
• Witnesses have claimed seeing youths “stamping on and kicking” people in the street
• Police issued a Section 35 dispersal order allowing them to arrest anyone refusing to leave or returning to the area once asked to leave
• Around 70 youths were involved in the “chaos” the force confirmed
• A Met Police spokesman also confirmed groups were completely dispersed by 7.25pm
• It was added that one store locked its doors in response to a youth running away to escape a larger group

Youth escaped larger group into store, confirms police

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed all of the groups have been dispersed from the area.

Getwestlondon was told:

At this stage all of the groups have been dispersed.

One store was closed briefly in response to one youth running away from a larger group - he ran into the store.

Some offences were committed but they are being dealt with separately.

Picture shows crowd of youths

A picture of numerous youths has been sent to getwestlondon showing a large group standing outside Vision Express earlier this evening.

However, for identification reasons, we have not been able to publish the image on our website.

Man "repeatedly stamped on" claims witness

An anonymous resident told getwestlondon:

I was standing outside Primark having a cigarette, and I looked over to where Clarks is and there was just a swarm of them standing in a crowd. Then the crowd started shouting and moved towards Clarks’ doors where one girl who looked like she’d been in a fight was pulled out by security, then the fight broke out again.

Whoever they were after must have ended up in Clarks because they were trying to smash the doors down to get in there.

Then I saw a man stand up and get dragged back down where they repeatedly stamped on him.

He got up and looked like he was about to pass out. Security got him into the shop next to Clarks.

One of them saw I was on the phone to the police and according to my partner said about robbing my phone.

Once the fighting had stopped they all started to separate to different parts of Uxbridge - a group went and stood near KFC, a group were outside Tesco and the rest were scattered around all over the place and then when police came in that direction they ran towards Uxbridge train station. Some went down Windsor Street and some carried on as if to go up to the civic centre.

Around 70 youths involved

According to Hillingdon officers, the “chaos” was caused by around 70 youths fighting amongst themselves.

This is what the Metropolitan Police have said...

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said:

A dispersal zone has been authorised in Uxbridge town centre, to prevent antisocial behaviour and violence with injury.

This has been granted by Inspector Harris and is in place from 5.40pm on September 10 until 5.39pm on September 12.

Section 35 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Police and Crime Act 2014 allows a police officer of at least the rank of inspector to authorise a dispersal zone for up to 48 hours.

Once authorised, a constable in uniform may, under circumstances, direct a person to leave the area, in whole or in part, and direct the person not to return for up to 48 hours.

Stores "locking doors"

According to one local, part of the “chaos” happened outside Clarks in the High Street which has been forced to “lock its doors”.

It is claimed there are pupils from “three different schools” involved.

"Massive fight"

Some residents have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the commotion in the town centre.