School Wars Trend: Police Boost Patrols Amidst Fears

South Yorkshire Police have intensified patrols in response to a worrying social media trend dubbed 'school wars,' which has created anxiety among students, families, and staff. This trend involves online posts encouraging schools to compete as 'blue' or 'red' teams, with the premise of fighting for points.

Despite numerous calls reporting concerns, the force has confirmed no criminal offenses or injuries directly linked to this trend. However, specialist officers are actively monitoring social media, seeking to shut down accounts responsible, and working collaboratively with schools and local authorities. High-visibility patrols are scheduled to continue.

Schools, including Notre Dame High School and Wickersley School and Sports College, have communicated with parents, acknowledging the concern and anxiety. They emphasize the importance of student safety and urge parents to monitor their children's social media activity, advising students to avoid engaging with or sharing such posts and to go straight home after school.

This issue has garnered attention from national figures, with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology describing the content as 'deeply concerning.' Social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have stated they have community guidelines in place to remove content that glorifies violence or promotes crime.