Boos ring out as police shut down Leicester Square singing

Loud boos were heard after police shut down an impromptu chant while a busker performed in Leicester Square.

A huge crowd, largely ignoring social distancing guidelines, gathered at the popular London tourist spot and sang with Sweet Caroline as a busker played drums on Friday night.

A clip posted on social media shows the arrival of the police and boos can be heard after officers show up to ask the busker to stop.

The scenes reportedly took place after pubs and bars closed at 10:00 p.m.

It comes after Professor Kevin Fenton, England’s regional director of Public Health in London, said there was “undeniable evidence” that the coronavirus is spreading in the capital.

This week he called on all Londoners to follow social distancing and good hygiene rules to try to combat the growing epidemic, as official figures showed there were 6,660 news cases in the city in the week to 5 October.

Doctors in the capital believe it is some two weeks behind the Northwest in the course of the epidemic, and cities like Liverpool and Manchester have seen coronavirus cases skyrocket.

It also comes with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to announce tighter virus restrictions for England on Monday.

Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Police and London boroughs signed a partnership agreement to help enforce coronavirus restrictions in the capital.

Police officers, along with city council officers and city guards, will work together to ensure that the public is compliant with regulations.

Deputy Deputy Commissioner Matt Twist, who led the Met’s response to Covid-19, said: “The majority of the public continues to comply with the rules and appreciates the risk that Covid-19 poses. By working together with local authorities, those who continue to break the rules, whether individuals or businesses, can expect their illegal gatherings to disperse and face the consequences of business closures or fines.

Cllr Danny Thorpe, London Councils Executive Member for Crime and Public Protection, added: “If companies or individuals persistently break the rules and put others at risk of coming into contact with Covid-19, the districts of London will not hesitate to take firm action, working with our partners in the Metropolitan Police. “