'School wars' posts prompt extra police patrols

South Yorkshire Police has increased patrols to calm fears over a social media trend promoting "school wars".

Online posts dividing an area's schools into blue and red teams, then telling them to meet and fight for "points", have spread across the UK. The force said they had "received no confirmed reports of any criminal offences or injuries directly linked to this trend".

Some Sheffield schools have sent letters to parents saying they are working with police and the council to monitor the situation.

A police spokesperson said: "We know this has caused a lot of concern among pupils, families and staff at a number of our local schools."

Supt Paul Ferguson, force lead for neighbourhoods, said: "While we have received numerous calls to pass on information, intelligence and concerns, we have received no confirmed reports of any criminal offences or injuries directly linked to this trend.

"We have specialist officers and staff in force who are actively monitoring social media and co-ordinating intelligence as part of our response.

"We are seeking out the accounts responsible and doing everything we can to get them shut down."

He encouraged parents and guardians to "talk to their children about this and the importance of rising above it".

Police presence at a number of schools had been increased in response to the trend and high visibility patrols would be carried out throughout Friday, the spokesperson said.

Officers were working with partners in affected schools, monitoring relevant social media activity and "carrying out frequent intelligence checks".

They said any reported incidents would be investigated, and anyone involved in violence would be "dealt with swiftly and robustly".

Deirde Clearly, head teacher at Notre Dame High School, wrote to parents and said the "so-called red vs blue school wars" were causing "concern and anxiety" across the city.

"There's an ongoing multi-agency response in place and this involves the police, safeguarding hub and local authority," she said, adding that officers had visited affected schools on Thursday.

"While we do not want to cause unnecessary concern, it is important that students are aware and cautious," she added.

"Students were also reminded of our values as a school and the importance of us all working together to ensure everyone feels safe."

She asked pupils to avoid commenting or sharing social media posts and to head straight home after school.

Clearly also asked parents and guardians to monitor their child's social media.

In a letter to parents and carers, Wickersley School and Sports College offered similar advice, and said pupils' safety was "paramount for us as a school".

"Please contact the school if your child shares any relevant information with you about this latest worrying trend," it stated.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall said the content was "deeply concerning".

She said she understood TikTok was taking "action to review and address it".

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, a union that represents head teachers, said the posts were an example of the "Wild West environment" on social media.

Snapchat and TikTok previously said their community guidelines stated any content glorifying violence, containing threats or promoting crimes would be removed from their platforms.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North