Bromley’s police chief has said the borough is facing “emerging gang issues” – after a boy admitted taking a machete to intu Bromley shopping centre on Boxing Day.
Borough commander Chief Superintendent Chris Hafford yesterday (December 30) revealed Bromley was experiencing developing problems with gangs as he made a further appeal for witnesses to the fight that broke out in the shopping centre.
The row between two groups of youths, which sparked outside Aldo at around 3.30pm and involved weapons including a machete, sent shoppers fearing a gunman was on the loose, running for their lives.
Two teenage boys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have been arrested and charged in connection with the fight - one of them, a 16-year-old, appeared at Bromley Youth Court on Monday and admitted possessing an offensive weapon, namely a machete, at intu Bromley on Saturday.
Ch Supt Hafford said: “We are working closely with the security team at the centre and have very good CCTV images, but further information in helping to identify the remaining three youths is always welcome.
Bromley borough commander Chief Superintendent Chris Hafford
“This was an unfortunate one-off incident which ended up causing some distress for shoppers.
“Bromley is not a designated ‘gangs borough’, however, a recent Home Office peer review identified that, in common with many other places around the country, we are experiencing emerging gang issues.
“We are working with the council and other key partners to take action to keep our borough the safe and pleasant place it has always been.”
Councillor Kate Lymer, Bromley Council’s portfolio holder for public protection and safety who met with Ch Supt Hafford on Tuesday, said the row involved young people from another borough.
She said: “I want to reassure residents and shoppers that this was an isolated incident, nothing to do with terrorism, and involved young people from outside the borough fighting amongst themselves.
“Nonetheless, I can appreciate it was undoubtedly alarming for those who were there at the time.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information, which could help identify the three remaining youths, is asked to contact police on 101.
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