Police and community groups are preparing for a week of “Croydon Wars”, after children aged as young as 12 have been encouraged on social media to take weapons with them to a series of “Red v Blue” fights between schools.
According to one online post, “It don’t look like play fighting. It looks more like war fighting.”
Croydon Wars: messaging similar to this, which appeared in Hackney, has appeared on social media for Croydon
Croydon police used a dispersal order last month to avoid a mass gathering of schoolchildren outside Centrale, following the disruption that had been caused by a previous “blind date” meet-up set up by TikTok influencer called BusyTV that took place in Sutton, which attracted crowds of more than 200 children after school.
Videos from that event showed police tussling with a large crowd of schoolchildren outside the St Nicholas shopping centre in High Street.
The Croydon Wars do not appear to be as benign.
The social media messages are targeted at children from Years 8 to 11, and appear very similar to some that appeared last week in Hackney.
There, messages circulated calling on children to “Be violent”, and to come to an event armed with rulers, metal combs or compasses, to be used as weapons.
In Croydon, schools have been allocated as “Red” or “Blue”.
The schools listed include Harris Invictus, Coombe Wood, Oasis Arena, Saffron Valley Collegiate and Harris South Norwood (Red) and Coloma, Harris Purley, Norbury Manor, Orchard Park and Harris Beulah Hill (Blue). Other schools have also been included on the lists.
The dates given for the gatherings are next Friday, February 27, followed by further meets on March 2, 4, 5 and 6.
A meeting was held this morning attended by Croydon police, the council and the Safer Neighbourhood Chair, as well as other representatives to discuss “Croydon Wars” specifically.
In a statement issued after the meeting, they said, “We want to reassure the community that headteachers across the borough and the council are fully aware of the situation.
“The Met Police, alongside community partners, have reviewed all available information and agreed a co-ordinated response.”
This is to include an increased police presence on February 27, the Legacy Youth Zone being open for young people to attend, and “community representatives will be present in key locations”.
“Local shopping centres”, meaning the Whitgift and Centrale, are to provide “designated safe spaces”.
In appeals posted online which highlighted the planned Croydon Wars, parents have been urged to take control of the situation for the safety of their children, including by searching their children before they set off for school, and to check the whereabouts of their children.
The Metropolitan Police, as yet, has no plans for any dispersal orders.
In a statement issued to Inside Croydon, a Met spokesperson said: ““We’re aware of social media posts circulating, and we and are in close contact with schools across various London boroughs to offer reassurance.
“Officers will be visible around the schools named at the start and end of the day, and we will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder.”
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Get rid of tiktok forever.
Agreed – it’s a security threat and totally poisonous
Fights between schools in Croydonare hardly new. Just easier to organise.