Man detained on Oxford Street after West End shops were forced to close during a looting attempt reportedly inspired by TikTok posts . Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA
Rishi Sunak warned that rioters inspired by TikTok looting campaigns would face the “full force of the law” as he denounced the “terrifying” recent Oxford Street scenes.
9 people have been arrested and 34 dispersal orders issued last week following an incident on a shopping street in central London.
The riot, in which terrified shoppers were locked inside stores, came after a fast with The call to “rob JD Sports” and other stores has gone viral on TikTok and social media.
The post urged people to sign on to the “dress code” of balaclavas and gloves, while photos surfaced showing a young man punching a police officer in the face.
When asked if parents and police are still “take care of our kids these days” or whether social media should take a tougher stance, Mr Sunak told GB News: “It obviously happened when I was overseas. I have to say it's terrible.
“I consider criminal damage, criminal behavior unacceptable and I fully support the police in bringing these people to justice. I want everyone watching who thinks about this, sees something like this, to know that they will be punished to the fullest extent of the law, because such behavior is simply unacceptable in our society.”
The Metropolitan Police have reported an increased presence of officers following the Oxford Street riot. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, demanded a “full incident report” on the events as she ordered police to “track down and isolate” those behind the violence.
This came amid warnings that parents and the social media giants need to take more responsibility for a series of pernicious online frenzy, including “challenge” warnings that resulted in children overdosing on paracetamol, to see who can stay longer in the hospital.
< p>Donna Jones, chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, told BBC Radio 4's Today program that there were “incredibly disturbing” scenes in Southampton when 15- to 17-year-olds “decided to challenge each other to overdose”. She said: “We can't let this happen, and I think parents should step in.”
Nicky Aiken, vice chairman of the Conservative Party, told the Telegraph: “I hope the paracetamol craze becomes a wake-up call not only for parents, but also for platforms like TikTok.
“We all have a role to play in keeping our children safe and educating teenagers and young people about such dangers. It is my understanding that the internet safety bill cannot become law any time soon.”
Lee Anderson, also vice chairman of the Tory, said: “Social media companies should be held accountable for these ridiculous trends. that cause havoc and endanger the lives of young people. The Government is right to promote the Internet Safety Bill so that our children's lives are not endangered whenever they go online.” the platform was linked to the Oxford Street riots. They said they also found no evidence to support claims that the “paracetamol problem” was a trend on TikTok.
A TikTok spokesperson said, “These claims are simply wrong. We found no evidence to support them and this content was not trending on TikTok. We have sent a letter of fact to the government to clear up these misrepresentations.”
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