THREE police officers were taken to hospital after being hit by a vehicle in Chingford Mount, as rioting and looting broke out across London.

The officers were making arrests in connection with youths looting a shop, believed to be the Aristocrat clothes store in Chingford Mount Road, at around 12.45am this morning (August 8), when they were hit by the speeding vehicle.

Two of them suffered superficial injuries, the other has an injury to his knee.

Nearby resident, Angie Venner, 58, woke up to police cordons outside her Royston Avenue home, close to the junction with Chingford Mount Road.

She said: "I just think it is scary. What is this world coming to.

"I am sure the violence and vandalism is nothing to do with what happened in Tottenham.

"I am worried this sort of thing could happen again. It is just mindless violence."

A resident who wishes to remain anonymous, said she called the police last night after hearing the shop alarm and seeing several black youths in cars, parked nearby.

She added: “I heard lots of doors slamming and I thought to myself something is going to happen, then I heard the alarm.

“The police came very quickly and they were here until about 7am this morning.

“It is horrible. It is almost like anarchy. These are just opportunistic criminals taking advantage but I am worried it could happen again.

Earlier yesterday evening, more than 30 youths, many in masks, vandalised shops in central Walthamstow.

A group of 30 youths also ransacked Tesco in High Road, Leyton, close to Bakers Arms, at around midnight.

Staff fled the building when the group entered the shop.

A member of staff, who asked not to be named, said: "When we started our shift, we were told the shop was under threat.

"We were instructed just to leave the shop if trouble started.

"About 30 people came in and started smashing the place up and stealing cigarettes.

"The customer services desk was also smashed.

"We left and waited for the police to arrive."

Council leader Chris Robbins spoke to the Guardian this morning as he inspected the damage in High Street, Walthamstow.

He said: "I am appalled by what has happened.

"I think first of all the police did a brilliant job in anticipating this.

“The police response was excellent considering the pressure they are under.”

"It looks like there has been a small band who have come out to take advantage of the trouble over the weekend.

"This has got nothing to do with any particular grievances that people might have in Waltham Forest

"We see this as a limited exercise of violence by a small group of crooks.

"But I hope this doesn't herald a bad August or a bad summer."

Cllr Robbins said, despite the smashed windows and damage to BHS store and shops and banks, the unrest in Waltham Forest was limited compared to problems in Brixton and Tottenham.

He is due to attend a town hall meeting with police this morning to discuss the response to the unrest.

In response to the disturbances, Chingford and Woodford Green MP, Iain Duncan Smith, said: “It is terrible.

"I have been warning the Mayor and Home Office for a long time with the particular problems we face with gangs in Waltham Forest.

He said the £3 million gang initiative programme launched in Waltham Forest in January needs the full backing of the London Mayor's office.

Based on successful schemes in America and Glasgow, the project involves police offering known gang members training and rehabilitation, while also making support available to their families.

Mr Duncan Smith added: “It should be rolled out across London so we don't have this kind of problem again.

“The last few days has shown that there are so many active street gangs who are violent, territorial and criminal.

“It does not take much to get them involved because they are always in contact with each other.

“The solution is not just down to the police. We need to break down gangs by dealing with the younger ones, by getting them into education and then getting the older ones off the streets.

"My general view, is that across the board in London, the problem is not being looked at comprehensively enough.

"It is not enough to do a crackdown on knives."

Walthamstow MP, Stella Creasy, said: “People are naturally concerned.

“This was people coming in and targeting our shopping centre and targeting locals shop and stealing things.

“It is a different thing in terms of the social unrest in Tottenham.

“We have had no reports today which is a good thing but there is a lot of unease and I do understand that.

“What I would appeal to people today is lets calm down. There's a strong police presence making sure last night's was a one off.

“People should look at last night and not link it to Tottenham. We need to be careful before we say this is about gangs. These are people exploiting what has happened, to commit crime.

“It is really important not to jump to conclusions because it is generating fear.

“I am asking people not to believe everything they read, but they should stay home and keep their family together.

“The one thing I would tell people is not to believe everything they are hearing and if anybody is concerned they should contact me or check my tweets.”

Conservative Councillor for Valley ward, Jemma Hemsted, said: "The thuggish behaviour we have been subjected to in our borough over the weekend is blatant opportunism by thugs who have no respect for themselves or the area in which we live.

"Taking advantage of the fact the capitals police resources were being concentrated in Tottenham they quickly turned their attention to looting opportunities in Chingford.

"I feel incredibly angry on behalf of tax payers, who’s money is now going to be used to clear up this mess when it is so desperately needed elsewhere, who do these thugs think will pay for the cleanup operation?

"As always my utmost respect goes out to our police force and I wish any officers injured a speedy recovery."

Police also arrested rioters who attacked officers and looted shops in Enfield Town and Ponders End.

Firefighters attended multiple incidents, with six engines dispatched to deal with a blaze in Brixton Road.

Rival gangs also clashed at Kings College Hospital following the admission of two stab victims.

The violence comes after rioting in Tottenham on Saturday (August 6), which followed the fatal shooting by police of 29-year-old Mark Duggan in Tottenham Hale, last Thursday.

Updating the number of arrests and officers injured, Commander Christine Jones of the Metropolitan Police, said: "Officers responding to sporadic disorder in a number of boroughs made more than 100 arrests throughout last night and early this morning.

"This is in addition to the 61 arrests made on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"So far there have been 16 charges (burglary, points and blades, theft, POCA, violent disorder), 11 awaiting CPS advice, 17 bailed, one caution, one sectioned under the Mental Health Act and there are 15 ongoing enquiries.

"Officers are shocked at the outrageous level of violence directed against them. At least nine officers were injured overnight in addition to the 26 injured on Saturday night.

"We will not tolerate this disgraceful violence. The investigation continues to bring these criminals to justice."

5.30pm: Update from Waltham Forest Police.

Nine people aged between 17 and 29 have been arrested in connection with the Chingford Mount looting.

Four of them have been bailed while the other five remain in custody.

A spokesman said: "Last night Waltham Forest experienced sustained criminal activities by small groups of criminals who were primarily damaging or breaking into commercial premises.

"So far twenty one people have been arrested for burglary. We now have specialist officers gathering evidence so that we can identify those not yet detained.

"Three officers were injured overnight in Waltham Forest. Two were run over by a suspect vehicle attempting to flee the scene of a crime and a third injured his hand when making an arrest.

"All three officers were released from hospital after receiving treatment.

"The existing Police, Council and Community Groups partnership is jointly planning a range of activities in response to last nights activities.

"In addition to utilising officers from other parts of London there will be additional patrols by local staff.

"The behaviour of a minority of criminals will not be tolerated and every step will be taken to hold offenders to account for their actions."

Did you witness the disturbances? Did you take any photographs? email: wfnewsdesk@london.newsquest.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 07824 530128

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