What is the ‘link up’ trend and what happened in Clapham?

LocalTechnology
2 Apr 2026 • 3:01 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The Metropolitan Police are cracking down on disorder in Clapham, South London, after teenagers stormed the high street twice in recent days, reportedly fuelled by an online trend.
  • On Tuesday, hundreds of young people engaged in anti-social behaviour, attempting to access shops, lighting fires, and setting off fireworks on Clapham High Street and Clapham Common.
  • Police deployed around 100 officers, issued a dispersal order, and made three arrests for assaulting an emergency worker, with one officer requiring hospital treatment.
  • Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond warned that more arrests would follow, urging young people to consider the long-lasting consequences of their actions and appealing to parents to take responsibility.
  • Local businesses described "scary" scenes, with one store manager reporting a pregnant woman and her husband sheltering inside her shop during the chaos.

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