Britain’s biggest police force has said it will crack down on illegal raves over the summer after a man was stabbed to death at an unlicensed music event in south London during a weekend of disorder.

Senior officers at the Metropolitan Police have raised concerns that such events could spark more trouble over the warmer months of the year.

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

Mr 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.”

His comments come after a weekend of violence and disorder which saw the death of 26-year-old Jason Nyarko, who was stabbed at a rave in South Bermondsey, southeast London on Saturday, and crowds of up to 2,000 people gathering at an illegal event in the South Downs in Steyning, West Sussex, on Sunday.

Detectives investigating Mr Nyarko’s death have since charged a 16-year-old boy with his murder. He was due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sussex Police have warned would-be revellers that they will face “the full force of the law” in the wake of Sunday’s rave, where 90 people were arrested.

Last year, violence surged in London as lockdown was lifted, fuelled by gang feuds that had been playing out on social media.

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

The force has warned the capital is “on track” for the worst level of teenage murders since 2008.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors said: “Every single phase through the lockdown and lifting we have projected forward what might happen and made sure we’re ready for that.”

Anyone with information about Jason Nyarko’s death should call 101, providing the reference 8848/26JUN, or the incident room on 020 8721 4205, providing the reference Operation Tula.

Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.

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