The Battle of Lewisham took place on 13 August 1977, when 500 members of the far-right National Front (NF) attempted to march from New Cross to Lewisham in southeast London but were met by various counter-demonstrations of approximately 4,000 people that led to violent clashes between the two groups and between the anti-NF demonstrators and police. 5,000 police officers were present, and 56 officers were injured, 11 of whom were hospitalised. In total, 214 people were arrested. Later disturbances in Lewisham town centre saw the first use of police riot shields on the UK mainland.