Police have called on parents to “take responsibility” after two days of social media-fuelled disorder in Clapham, south-west London. Hundreds of young people gathered on Saturday and Tuesday, following trends on TikTok and Snapchat to “swarm the streets”.
Six teenage girls have been arrested so far, with the Metropolitan Police warning that more arrests will follow as CCTV and body-worn camera footage is reviewed. The force urged parents to prevent their children from participating in similar events over the Easter weekend.
Footage from Tuesday showed crowds on Clapham High Street, with reports of shops and restaurants being stormed. Fireworks were set off on nearby Clapham Common. Four officers and one member of the public were assaulted during the unrest, which required 100 police officers to be deployed.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan condemned the “appalling scenes”, stating they were “absolutely unacceptable” and that those responsible would “face the full force of the law”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch linked the disorder to a culture where young people face no consequences, warning that looting today could lead to worse behaviour tomorrow.
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said: “I’d urge those young people who think this is just a bit of fun to carefully consider the consequences. Events like this, fuelled by online trends and viral content, can quickly escalate and lead to serious outcomes.” She added that parents must be proactive in knowing their children’s whereabouts and activities.
