Cars were set on fire in Lewisham and a bus and shop were set ablaze in Peckham. A large furniture shop in Croydon is also well alight.
In Hackney, police have sealed off part of Mare Street after youths smashed police car windows.
The trouble flared after a man was stopped in Hackney and searched by police but nothing was found.
There were also fears trouble may spread further afield as police in riot gear were deployed in Birmingham city centre after scores of youths rampaged through the shopping area, smashing windows.
The fresh violence prompted Acting Scotland Yard Commissioner Tim Godwin to called on parents to contact their children and urged the public to clear London's streets.
Up to 200 police officers in riot gear are in the Hackney area and are clashing with youths, who have tried to set fire to vehicles.
Groups of people began attacking the police in Hackney at about 16:20 BST, throwing rocks and a bin at officers.
Police cars were also smashed by youths armed with wooden poles and metal bars.
Looters also smashed their way into shops, including a JD Sports store, before being dispersed by police.
Planks of wood taken from a lorry were then hurled towards lines of riot officers.
Violence has broken out in Peckham, south London, where a shop and a bus have been set on fire.
In nearby Lewisham, a number of vehicles and a trail of bins on fire. [/p]
I just heard from my friends, some areas in Eastham, Barking and Ilford has been closed down as stuff started going on..
Pretty bad situation. Public and private transports narrowing down.
LIVE COVERAGE!
Well atleast now there's no more curfew, just Police checkpoints 
