Metropolitan Police says it is increasing number of officers patrolling around schools and town centre, ‘and we will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder’

Shutdown: the Met Police says it is acting against social media sites that are inciting Croydon Wars

A senior police officer based in Croydon has issued a statement seeking to offer some kind of reassurance to parents, carers, teaching staff and children themselves over the threat posed by a TikTok inspired mass meeting called “Croydon Wars” this Friday.

Inside Croydon was first to report the online “invitation”, which in some places was being aimed at children as young as 12 years old, to prepare for the gathering, this Friday, February 27. Other meetings were also listed for next week.

The messages circulated included calling on children to “Be violent”.

Children from Years 8 to 11 at a large number of Croydon schools have been urged to bring weapons, including rulers, metal combs and compasses, and to send their videos from the event to the TikTok inciter.

Urgent meetings involving the police, council and community leaders were held last week and agreed to provide some “safe places” in and around Croydon town centre.

Today, the Met Police’s Superintendent Luke Dillon, of the South Area Borough Command Unit, issued this message:

“We are aware of a number of recent posts circulating on social media which appear to encourage pupils to carry weapons and target other schools.

Reassurance: Supt Luke Dillon

“We understand this may be concerning to parents/guardians and we are directly contacting all of the schools in the borough to make them aware of this issue and our planned response.”

And Croydon’s Cambridge-educated copper said: “Here in Croydon we have stood up a local policing plan for the coming days to enable extra visibility around schools, especially at the end of the day, and we will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder.

“Should you receive any specific information relating to a particular event, school, location, or date, please let us know and we can adjust our plan.

“We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have already disabled a dozen social media accounts where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.

“If you have any concerns or information you wish to share, please contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency.”

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