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@Markyboy
The big stand-off, etc. on Effra Road kicked off not long after midnight. I'd just got back from dropping my motorbike off in Peckham and was on the 37. Stopped at the 2nd stop on Effra Road, just before the church and all was fine. Went inside my place, which overlooks the road, and 15 minutes later heard a lot of people outside walking south towards Currys/Halfords - around 2-300 according to reports. Lots of cars turned up to be loaded up and parked in every drive and then along Effra Road. Took the police about 45 minutes to come, by which time the looting was in full flow.
First attempt by the riot police to intervene, ended up with them being driven back to the juntion by St Matthews Church - with bottles, bricks and burning wheelie bins - whilst the looting continued. People were walking and driving out of the area with the booty, unhindered. Then the police blocked Effra Road at the other end by the Hoot and went in again in greater numbers, with a helicopter lighting things up. That led to a running battle in St Matthews Estate and a whole lot of fucking noise...and people escaping through Snowy's garden and ruining his peas.
Quietened down around 3.30, but was still rumbling. Similar stuff was running in parallel behind M&S off the high street, as I was chatting to a friend who lives in Nursery Road, by Ferndale Sports Centre.
There has been a lot of talk of rival gangs in the area, but I saw no sign of it from my rather good vantage point - and no one I spoke to last night in Brixton knew anything about it. The looters I saw didn't fill any particular stereotype - a real mixed bunch and seemingly very polite at the start - just free shopping. There were some nasty moments, but it has some way to go comapare to the old days.