Sunak Condemns ‘TikTok Rioters’ Amid Police Call for Parents to Control Their Children

Police officers try to stop youths as they run out of a McDonald's store on Oxford Street in central London on Aug. 9, 2023. PA

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the disorder in London’s Oxford Street last week.

Speaking to Sky News about the behaviour of young people who follow social media trends encouraging them to gather and engage in criminal behaviour, Mr. Sunak said it was “appalling.”

“Criminal damage, criminal behaviour is unacceptable. I fully support the police in bringing those people to justice, because that type of behaviour is simply unacceptable in our society,” the prime minister added.

Mr. Sunak’s comments come amid a call by the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire to hold parents accountable for their children’s actions.

Donna Jones told Sky News that the UK has been seeing a slow breakdown of moral values and societal norms.

“Parents saying, ‘I can’t control my teenager.’ That’s simply not good enough. Parents do need to get a grip of their kids,” Ms. Jones said.

Hundreds of young people turned up in Oxford Street on Aug. 9, after a video circulated on TikTok encouraging people to loot a sports store. Police officers clashed with young men and women and tried to disperse the crowds that gathered around the shops where looters were operating.

Nine people were arrested and 34 dispersal orders were issued during the incident.

Ms. Jones said that the nine arrested individuals and those linked to “mindless criminal behaviours, such as shoplifting, looting, rioting, and running to oncoming traffic” will be held responsible.

“This is why parents do need to be involved in this. The police react when there is an issue; parents should be proactively speaking to their children about what is morally acceptable and what is right and wrong,” Ms. Jones argued.

Turning a blind eye to children’s behaviour is not acceptable, she added.

‘Incredibly Worrying’

Following the Oxford Street incidents, Essex Police placed a dispersal order in Southend in response “to an event which was planned to take place in the city.” Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan said that anyone coming to the city to “be threatening, be antisocial or commit crime” will be arrested.

Essex Police used a dispersal order 27 times to break up large groups and arrested three people.

Parents or guardians who think young people in their care could have been involved in mass looting and disorder in London or Southend should challenge their children’s behaviour, Ms. Jones said.

Parents should make the young people aware that criminal conduct could lead to a record and affect their employment prospects for the rest of their lives, she added.

TikTok has been in contact with Ms. Jones over the incidents in Oxford Street. One issue she said she will raise with the social media network is the alleged involvement of a prominent TikTok influencer in instigating a flashmob riot in London.

TikTok prankster Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, was one on those who received a dispersal order in London and Southend. He has denied having any involvement in violence on Oxford Street.

Social media companies “have a part to play,” said Ms. Jones, who said she will be discussing TikTok’s role in safeguarding its users.

Social media crazes are “incredibly worrying” and can cause “mindless vandalism,” taking away police hours from operational policing, said the commissioner. She called for action from social media companies.

Following the Oxford Street disorder, TikTok said in a statement that it has “zero tolerance for content facilitating or encouraging criminal activities.”

“We have over 40,000 safety professionals dedicated to keeping TikTok safe—if we find content of this nature, we remove it and actively engage with law enforcement on these issues,” the company said in a statement to the BBC.