Gangs of youths ran riot in Clapham for a second night on Tuesday.
Scores of teenagers forced branches of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Boots to close in one of south London’s most well-to-do areas.
Police made two arrests, and dozens of officers were sent to the scene in an attempt to quell the anti-social behaviour. But the youths refused to obey orders to disperse and faced off against the police.
The scenes are the latest in a trend in which large groups of teenagers run riot through shops and high streets.
Dozens of officers were sent to the scene in an attempt to quell the anti-social behaviour
Last month, footage showed hooded teenagers running through the streets of Wolverhampton, hurling eggs at buses and pedestrians. Hundreds of youths descended on a streetwear pop-up shop in Soho, central London, resulting in scuffles with police.
On Tuesday night, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force was still at the scene of the disorder, and that two girls had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a member of the emergency services.
“Police are responding to an ongoing incident on Clapham High Street following reports of a large crowd of young people causing anti-social behaviour,” the spokesman said.
“Officers are on the scene, and a dispersal order has been put in place, meaning anyone congregating must leave the area.
“At this time, two teenage girls have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. They have been taken into custody. Officers will remain in the area to offer support and respond to any concerns from local residents and businesses.”
On Saturday, up to 100 teenagers overwhelmed a Marks & Spencer’s branch on Clapham High Street, with police struggling to contain the disorder.
Officers in uniform can be seen on video trying to quell the disorder in the frozen food aisle.
The Metropolitan Police said two 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-old girl were arrested for shoplifting and assault.
Laila Cunningham, the Reform UK candidate for Mayor of London, told The Telegraph: “When groups of teenagers feel confident enough to rampage through shopping areas, target businesses and film it for social media, that tells you something fundamental has shifted.
“The fear of consequences has gone. This is what lawless London looks like. The truth is, the public has already lost confidence.”
Susan Hall, the leader of the London Conservatives, told The Telegraph: “As every month goes by, we see increasing bad behaviour, from blatant shoplifting to the rampaging through shopping areas in London.
“It appears to be because all these hooligans know they can get away with it. Until we have a police force that is given proper resources with many more officers, not less as we are now witnessing in the Met, we can expect lawlessness to increase.
“Sadiq Khan should stop spending money on ‘nice to haves’ and start concentrating his enormous budget on keeping Londoners safe.”