London Police Urge Pupils to Ignore 'School Wars' Posts on TikTok and Snapchat
The Metropolitan police have issued a stark warning to pupils in London after social media posts on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat began promoting violent 'school wars'. These posts encourage children, some as young as 11 years old, to participate in organised fights between local schools, with some even featuring images of weapons such as knives, compasses, and fireworks.
Details of the Disturbing Posts
One particularly alarming post advertised a 'north London war', pitting four named schools on a 'red side' against four on a 'blue side', targeting pupils from year seven to 11. Another promoted a 'Hackney war' and included explicit suggestions for weapons to bring. Some posts have gone further, proposing a points system based on the harm inflicted on opponents and urging participants to 'be violent'. Commander Neerav Patel from the Met confirmed that the force is aware of these posts and is actively monitoring online spaces.
Police Response and Warnings
In response, the Met has requested social media platforms to ban accounts promoting these so-called 'school wars'. Commander Patel emphasised the serious consequences for young people involved, stating, 'An arrest, charge and conviction for violence and carrying weapons could mean imprisonment with a significant long-term impact on future opportunities.' The police are in contact with several London boroughs to offer reassurance and have already worked to disable a dozen social media accounts where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.
School and Parental Concerns
Several London schools have taken proactive measures by sending letters to parents warning them about these posts. For instance, Fortismere school in Haringey alerted parents to the 'social media activity circulating across various parts of London that encourages young people to take part in so called 'tagging' or 'schools wars'–style games.' Graveney school in Tooting assured parents that they would deploy enhanced security measures, including searching students if necessary, to prevent any incidents.
Scepticism and Government Involvement
Despite the concerns, some pupils are sceptical about the authenticity of these posts, with many believing them to be spoofs aimed at fearmongering. A year 10 pupil was quoted saying, 'People are just trying to fearmonger parents ... Any teenager with common sense would not meet somewhere where the police have been told about and bring a weapon.' Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has flagged the issue to government colleagues, commenting on one post that he has 'raised this at highest levels in government' and warning that such behaviour will be dealt with severely.
Previous Incidents and Ongoing Monitoring
This is not the first time such activities have been attempted; a previous effort to organise a school fight in Hackney led police to issue a dispersal order. The Met continues to closely monitor the situation, urging young people to avoid involvement and reminding them of the legal and personal risks associated with violence and weapon possession.
