A group of schoolchildren from a Streatham school formed a protective ring around a police van to try and stop vandals at the students’ protests.

Year 11 pupil Rimba Temple-Smith, from Dunraven School formed a chain with friends Victoria Kuziora 16, and Samantha Hawkes, 15, as vandals smashed the windscreen with sticks and metal poles, before climbing on top.

Rimba, 16, told the Evening Standard: “I was there with my friends telling people not to smash it. There was a few other people doing the same. It is about cuts, not violence. The people smashing the van are just thugs.”

Police said they did not try and retake the vehicle while it was being vandalised because of fears it could aggravate the situation.

Thousands of students were penned in by officers after the incident to try and prevent further trouble.

A police spokesman said: "It is regrettable that students decided to damage the police van. In order to prevent this happening it would have been necessary to deploy a large number of officers and use substantial force.

"Any action we take must be proportionate and in the best interests of all involved. The criminal damage to the van is disappointing, but the safety of the public must be paramount.

"The van was following the crowd to determine which direction they might take. In a very short space of time, protesters surrounded the van. The officers felt vulnerable and decided the best course of action was to leave the van."

He said equipment had been stiolen from the van. It is understood personals items belonging to officers were also in side the van.

He said they had made a number of arrests relating to the incident, and their enquiries were continuing.