The Met police is set to crack down on illegal raves over the summer with senior officers concerned that the events could spark disorder following the fatal stabbing of a Lewisham man.

Metropolitan Police Commander Ade Adelekan said that officers will aim to stop so-called unlicensed music events before they take place.

On Saturday 26-year-old Jason Nyarko was stabbed to death at an unlicensed music event in South Bermondsey, next to Millwall FC's stadium.

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Commander Ade Adelekan said: “We will have a preventative response around unlicensed music events.

“We will be looking to make sure that we thwart those where they are likely to take place, because they have morphed away from being just anti-social and in fact they present a real safeguarding issue and a real threat around disorder.”

Another force, Sussex Police, saw crowds of up to 2,000 people gathering at a rave in the South Downs in Steyning, West Sussex.

There are also concerns around levels of violence over the summer as coronavirus restrictions may be eased further.

Last year there was a surge in violent crime in the capital as lockdown was lifted, fuelled by a gang feuds that had been played out on social media.

The Met’s public order command is preparing for the potential lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on July 19, as well as the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors said the squad monitors national and international events to see what may spark protests.

She added: “Every single phase through the lockdown and lifting we have projected forward what might happen and made sure we’re ready for that.

“Be that violence, which is our priority, or any of the public order issues. We are always scanning for that, key dates in the diary, to make sure that we are ready.”