Shopkeepers prepare for further trouble after high street swarmed by teenagers
Shopkeepers in a high street twice swarmed by several hundred children are bracing themselves for further unrest in the school holidays.
Staff working in Clapham High Street in south London described having to lock their doors after teenagers ran amok on Saturday and Tuesday as part of an online trend. The children arranged to meet in so-called “link-ups” using social media apps including TikTok and Snapchat, before surging into shops, and letting off fireworks on Clapham Common. Six teenage girls have been arrested and the Metropolitan Police put a 48-hour dispersal order in place on Tuesday. Sheikh Awais, who works at chicken shop Rooster Spot, said: “Many children came to the high street and police were catching some people but then at least 70 to 80 children came into our shop as well. “They were shouting and sitting there, some were rude and aggressive with me. Some did go outside nicely. “It is damaging for business, in the evening it is peak time, everybody is going home and buying food. “The police said please close the shop if you can and I said, yes.” Yash, who works at Olive and Meze next door to Sainsbury’s, said: “I was working here and I witnessed it all. Once the police came to Sainsbury’s, they ran to McDonald’s and there was a fight. “I had to close the door, I don’t want any trouble, you don’t know what they carry and you cannot touch them. “There were a lot of them, you could not count them, I would say around a thousand running around. “They might come back again but I don’t know why they are doing this.” Businesses said it appeared to be mainly food shops that were targeted, with the local branch of McDonald’s reporting the theft of food. Raz, the manager of Venus Barber shop, told the Press Association: “I saw them from the window running down the street. “I heard they had organised it on social media and apparently the police were aware of it as well. “Apparently, they say on Saturday it is going to happen again, last Saturday happened and apparently this Saturday is going to happen as well.” Another shop owner said: “It is very strange, the shops they go to. It is not trainer shops or anything, it’s food.” Parents of the several hundred teenagers who gathered in Clapham have been warned to take responsibility by police, and make sure that they know where their children are. The Metropolitan Police said there will be further arrests as officers go through CCTV and bodyworn camera footage of what happened. After unrest on Saturday, 100 police officers were sent to Clapham on Tuesday. Four officers were assaulted, along with one member of the public. Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said: “Our officers will continue to maintain a strong, visible presence around Clapham and we will respond robustly to any reports of disorder, thefts or planned meet-ups. “I’d urge those young people who think this is just a bit of fun to carefully consider the consequences. “Events like this, fuelled by online trends and viral content on platforms such as TikTok, can quickly escalate and lead to serious outcomes. “If you join in or cause further disorder, you should expect to be arrested and risk a criminal record, which can have long-lasting consequences for your future, including employment opportunities and potentially your ability to travel. “There is widespread CCTV coverage on streets and in businesses in the area and we’re already reviewing that footage, as well as officers’ bodyworn video cameras, to identify those who committed offences on Saturday and last night. “The parents or guardians of those involved in last night’s disorder also have a role to play. “I’d appeal to them to take responsibility, to be proactive in knowing where their children are and who they’re with, and to take steps to make sure they’re not involved in this sort of unacceptable antisocial behaviour.” On Tuesday, three girls, one aged 17 and two aged 13, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, while on Saturday two 16-year-old girls and one aged 15 were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and assault. Similar scenes were seen in Birmingham city centre on Friday after schools there broke up for the Easter holidays. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We’re aware that Birmingham city centre often sees an influx of school children on the day schools break up for half-term. “Last Friday, a handful of people were arrested for public order offences and dealt with accordingly. “Local officers worked closely with the local community, Bullring and local partners to reduce further disruption and disperse the crowd.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub