Parents alarmed after schools named in violent post

Parents have voiced fears after a poster circulated online urging pupils from schools in Northamptonshire to take part in organised violence.

The poster, which promoted a 'Northampton War', listed multiple schools in the area and encouraged teenagers to gather and "be violent".

Northamptonshire Police said they were aware of the post and warned that "anyone seen fighting or wielding weapons of any kind will be arrested".

Rebecca Birdsall, a mother of four, said the post left her "terrified" about her children's safety.

"Yesterday [Wednesday], my son's phone tracking went off and I went into massive panic mode because he was late home and I didn't know where he was," she said.

"I need to know where he is all the time."

She added the response from her children's school was "amazing" after she informed them of the post.

The poster circulated widely on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, but it is not clear who is responsible for posting it.

Michael Stratton, a Reform UK councillor and cabinet member for children, families and education at West Northamptonshire Council, said the post was "incredibly irresponsible and wholly unacceptable".

"I would urge parents and carers to be aware of what their children may be encountering online and to talk openly with them about making safe choices and avoiding harmful peer pressure," he said.

The force said officers had been visiting schools to speak to students and carrying out "proactive patrols around schools and areas where disorder could occur".

The social media post mirrors similar "school war" posters in London, where police increased patrols in several boroughs.

One poster called for a 'Hackney War' and urged Year 9 pupils from eight schools to meet up with everyday items, implying they could be used as weapons.

The message split schools into 'red' and 'blue' sides and asked onlookers to film attacks and send footage to the organiser.

The Metropolitan Police said they "continue to closely monitor online spaces" and had requested a dozen social media accounts be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.

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