Riot police on standby in Brixton

There were violent outbursts on Friday night

Riot police kept a high profile in south London on Saturday night to prevent a repeat of violence by angry protesters.

Officers monitored the situation in Brixton throughout the day after shops were attacked and looted on Friday night.

But there were no reports of trouble from the town, where 27 people had been arrested after violence broke out following a peaceful demonstration against the fatal shooting by police of a man on Monday.

We are going to have high visibility patrols to let the public know we are around to allay any fears

Police spokesman

The high visibility police patrols were designed to allay any fears the public may have.

Three officers were injured in the violence - one WPc reportedly suffered a broken arm - in what police have called "mindless vandalism".

'Racist repression'

Derek Bennett, 29, a psychiatric patient, was shot dead by a police marksman in Brixton on Monday.

He had reportedly been seen brandishing a weapon, which turned out to be an imitation gun cigarette lighter.

But Nicholas Long of the Metropolitan Police Authority, who witnessed the trouble in Brixton on Friday, said: "Last night's criminal activity in the Brixton area was not directly connected to the tragic death of Derek Bennett."

He accused some demo organisers of "inciting" violence.

"I witnessed events earlier in the evening. A group of young people appeared to associate themselves with the demonstration with the clear intention of causing trouble," he said.

Local activist Alex Owolade, from the anti-racist group Movement for Change, has said the outbreak of violence was a rebellion against "racist policing".

The Police Complaints Authority is investigating Derek Bennett's death

"What happened last night was the youth and the community rebelling against years of racist repression, and years of racist injustice at the hands of the police," he told the BBC.

The peaceful demonstration began on Friday afternoon, with about 120 protesters gathering outside Brixton police station.

They then held a minute's silence at the scene of the shooting on the Angel Estate, before dispersing.

But police say about 40 youths later become involved in isolated incidents, damaging cars and shops.

The numbers swelled to around 100 as police moved in with riot vans.

Trouble began at about 2100BST and continued until the early hours of the morning.

'Opportunistic' looting

Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter said: "The disorder and looting we have seen tonight is opportunistic and certainly not representative of the local community.

Three officers were injured, one suffering a broken arm

"The vast majority of those who took part in the vigil dispersed peacefully."

Police said most of the 27 arrests had been for burglary.

Mr Bennett's death is being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority, which investigates police conduct.

Officers from Northumbria Police are to establish whether the Metropolitan Police firearms team was to blame for the death.

The inquiry team is asking for witnesses to the shooting and is making house-to-house inquiries this weekend.

An inquest into Mr Bennett's death was opened and adjourned until February next year.

Mr Bennett's parents, of Camberwell New Road, Brixton, are demanding a full explanation as to why their son died.

The witness hotline is 01661 869603.