Oxford Street: Police involved in scuffles as nine arrested over plans to 'rob JD Sports'

Police arrested nine people and issued 34 dispersal orders on London’s Oxford Street on Wednesday, amid reports of scuffles with officers as they attempted to deal with a planned disorder.

Shops closed their shutters briefly shortly after 3pm after a social media craze that urged users to “rob JD Sports” on Europe’s busiest shopping street.

A policeman was allegedly punched while trying to deal with a large group who had gathered on Oxford Street, while two people were held in Essex for conspiracy to commit robbery.

Others were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and going equipped to steal.

In one incident, two young men were led away from near to a McDonald’s in handcuffs, close to a shop rumoured to be the target of the disturbance.

Crowds gathered on the street while traffic was temporarily brought to a halt, until four mounted police alongside security personnel were able to disperse onlookers.

There was a heavy police and security presence on the street in the build-up to the disturbance, while dispersal orders were in place.

Dispersal orders provide the police with extra powers to break up groups of two or more people, where they believe their behaviour is causing a nuisance, harassment or distress.

Watch: Nine arrested on London’s Oxford street after rumours of disorder advertised on social media

City of Westminster Police said: “Throughout Wednesday, officers maintained a high-visibility presence within the Oxford Street area.”

It added: “Four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the dispersal order, one person was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal, one person arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one person was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

“Earlier in the afternoon, officers arrested two people in Essex for conspiracy to commit robbery following online social media posts.”

Following the arrests, home secretary Suella Braverman said the police “have my full backing to do whatever necessary to ensure public order”.

She tweeted: “We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness seen in some American cities to come to the streets of the UK...

“Those responsible must be hunted down and locked up.”

Shoppers and tourists were warned to stay away from the famous street in central London after social media posts suggested the sports shop could be ransacked at 3pm.

Posts encouraging people to shoplift at a specific time were widely shared on TikTok and Snapchat with police mobilising in response to the apparent organised mass crime.

A post told social media users they would need a bally (balaclava) and gloves, prompting several others to reply "How is there a dress code for a robbery?"

London mayor Sadiq Khan had warned people against participating in the TikTok stunt – adding that shoppers just wanted to have a good day out rather than "being worried about that sort of nonsense".

"I am worried about this nonsense we have seen on TikTok encouraging people to go to Oxford Street,"Khan said in a statement. "The police understand why some people may be tempted to go to that part of London because of the TikTok.

"I'd encourage anybody who's seen it not to go to Oxford Street. Do not allow yourself to be sucked into an area that could be high-crime area.

"It won't be: because the police work incredibly hard with the local community with the retailers in that part of London, and with those citizens who want to have a good day out on Oxford Street tomorrow rather than being worried about that sort of nonsense."

JD Sports stores have previously been targeted by groups of people intent on shoplifting.

The shop lost £700,000 during looting in the London riots in 2011 and was hit by a mass shoplift group on Halloween in 2019 – in an incident that saw dozens of young people carry out a raid on the company's Tottenham store.