Police Tackle Online Plots for School Violence

Social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat are being used to encourage school fights among students, some as young as 11. These posts, which have prompted warnings from headteachers and police, involve organized "school wars" with some even specifying weapon types and encouraging violence. The Metropolitan Police are actively monitoring these online activities and have requested the disabling of accounts involved in planning or encouraging such acts.

Commander Neerav Patel stressed the serious repercussions for students who participate, including potential arrests, charges, convictions for violence, and imprisonment, all of which can significantly impact future opportunities. Several London schools have begun notifying parents about this trend, with some implementing enhanced security measures. Despite these efforts, some students reportedly view the posts as spoofs designed to alarm parents, questioning the likelihood of teenagers engaging in such risky behavior when aware of police involvement.