The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has warned there will extra officer deployed on the streets for when pubs reopen on “super Saturday.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 she said, that “feeling have been running high” amid lockdown and her officers are ready and “prepared” for disorder, warning pubgoers to be “sensible.”
She said, “We’re planning, we’ve got extra resources in place, we’re talking to people in every way we can think of, we are absolutely prepared.
“You will see a lot of police officers out on the street.
“There will be a lot more ready should people be out of order, should people get violent. But I’m not predicting that at this stage.”
Over the last month London has seen extremely violent scenes with Black Lives Matter protests, with unlicensed music events.
The police chief added, “We have seen over recent weeks feelings have been running high in a number of areas for lots of different reasons.
“Coming out of lockdown, the events after the death of George Floyd. Lots of people are quite cross about a lot of things, and we are seeing people out on the streets and not always observing social distancing.
“My message is, if you’re coming out on Saturday, be calm, be sensible. Look after yourself, look after your family.
“We are still in a global pandemic which is affecting this country very obviously. People need to be sensible.
Police chiefs across England fear there will be widespread drunken disorder when pubs reopen on 4 July, and forces have started cancelling leave.
Forces fear this will lead to a “carnival” atmosphere as the lockdown is lifted on 4 July for the hospitality sector.
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said, “I am concerned that we have a pressure cooker building up, a perfect storm. This could just be the beginning.
“t’s everything, people getting more and more frustrated at the lockdown, many young people do not think the pandemic is an issue for them.
“Now many companies are going to start laying people off, which financially is going to be a real challenge for people.
“Add to that what has happened overseas with George Floyd and we have seen protests spreading across the country.”
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said, “If the weather is as it is now when they reopen then we could be in for a real apocalyptic day.’
He added, “There is no place in society for disorder and wanting to cause violence and pain and grief towards public and police alike.”
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