Police given extra powers to deal with schoolchildren in London over fears students set to 'target Tesco' in raid

Metropolitan Police officers were given extra powers to disperse schoolchildren in south-east London yesterday over fears they would 'target Tesco' in a mass raid. A Section 35 Order lasting from 2pm until midnight was issued for Woolwich, London, and parents at several Greenwich area schools received messages warning of a 'meet up', after a social media post went viral on TikTok. The post, shared by 'Woolwich Links' detailed a 'meetup and route plan' for the teens, which included a stop at McDonald's and Tesco's. The social media post also added instructions to the schoolchildren to 'Stay with the group', 'Respect the area', 'Keep it safe, fun and positive' and make 'No real trouble'. But it sparked a swift response from the authorities after a series of so-called 'link-ups' among teens this summer ended in violence. Indeed, while the post on Monday merely told attendees to 'get anything you need' from Tesco, many feared the post suggested schoolchildren carry out a raid on Tesco stores in Woolwich after school. Metropolitan Police Inspector Adrian Engelbrecht said in a statement handing police the power to disperse students: 'I have authorised a Section 35 Dispersal Order covering Woolwich, following viral social media posts about school children targeting Tescos in Woolwich this afternoon. 'This is primarily aimed as a preventative measure, however if there are problems later today [it] equips officers with powers to disperse anyone who is being problematic. This starts at 2pm and will last until midnight.' The social media post shared by Woolwich Links which encouraged a 'meet up' at McDonalds and Tesco The Section 35 Dispersal Order covering Woolwich gave Met officers the power to order an individual to leave an area for a limited time. Parents of children at schools across Greenwich were also sent emails warning of the plans, warning of 'antisocial behaviour' and a repeat of previous social media 'meet ups' in the capital, some of which ended in violence and fighting. One message, posted by a parent who said that it came from their child's secondary school, warned that social media posts were 'circulating within the wider community'. Another message to a parent read: 'We have been made aware of a post on TikTok that is encouraging school children from a variety of Greenwich schools to meet in Woolwich Town Centre this afternoon to "raid Tesco" and perform other antisocial behaviour,' GB News reported. 'This post looks like the "Red vs Blue" posts we endured last year,' it added. Earlier this year, posters inspired by notorious LA street gangs the Bloods and the Crips featuring men in red and blue balaclavas and listing which schools fall under which 'side' circulated on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. Some of the posts encouraged school pupils to fight with weapons, and led to a 15-year-old boy and a man in his 20s being arrested and later bailed. One of the so-called 'School Wars' posters showed images of scissors, a knife, compasses, fireworks, and a comb with the tagline 'bring your best'. The latest police dispersal order comes after Red vs Blue school wars were shared on social media this summer Hackney, Islington, Redbridge and Croydon were among the boroughs included in the 'Red vs Blue' fights, with 26 schools in total listed and split into teams. But parents from other parts of the capital also reported similar posts. It led to some schools finishing early with parents and carers urged to take their children straight home. Officers were also mobilised outside school gates as a precaution, while Scotland Yard said a 'strong police presence' would remain outside schools at the time. In April this year, teen flash mobs also wrought havoc in Clapham, terrorising innocent bystanders and lighting fires after online group chats encouraged chaos. The Easter holiday rampages flouted police orders to disperse and even saw teens engage in aggressive confrontation with officers. It is not known how the meet up in Woolwich on Monday ended. Woolwich Links has 175 followers on TikTok and is a platform used to arrange youth meet ups, such as football sessions and 'motives' in south-east London. The frenzied 'link ups' were first arranged using a digital flyer on Snapchat which read: 'Clapham Courts return link up 2026...Let's bring back courts for summer from now!!!! Saturday 28 March - 2pm till late.' At the bottom of the flyer, a line encouraged attendees to bring their own balloons - often used to consume laughing gas - as well as cannabis, Metro reported. Messages on a leaked Snapchat group chat reveal the planning that went into the Clapham flash mob and the potential for further meet-ups. The Daily Mail approached the Metropolitan Police for comment. READ MORE: Teenage boy and man, in his 20s, are arrested over 'school wars' social media posts urging pupils to fight with weaponsREAD MORE: Revealed: The Clapham teen group chats inviting mob chaos - with more disorder planned for this weekend