TikTok work with MPs to tackle catapult crimes

An MP concerned about social media trends involving catapults says Kent Police record an average of 14 incidents of crime involving the weapon every day.

Dartford's Labour MP Jim Dickson said: "These offences are often fuelled by social media, with sellers – many linked to organised crime – using platforms to trade and offenders sharing videos of wildlife being killed or maimed."

On Tuesday, Dickson and fellow Labour MPs met with officials from TikTok to discuss their concerns.

TikTok said that it did not allow any form of animal exploitation on its platform and that it removed 99.4% of violating content before it was reported between October and December.

Kent's Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott recently wrote to local MPs about the issue of catapult crime and said that the rise was "exacerbated by social media trends".

Dickson said that TikTok had banned 263 accounts and taken down 213 videos relating to his concerns.

The platform also committed to bolstering its moderation and to do more to remove accounts selling catapults, while working more closely with police, the MP added.

Dickson said: "I am calling on the Home Office to introduce classifying catapults as offensive weapons so police can confiscate them.

"We need urgent action from social media platforms to stop both the sale of catapults and the spread of this content."

The MP said that he was also trying to communicate with Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, about the issue, but had not heard back.

Kent Police Supt Rob Marsh said the illegal use of catapults was a "really serious matter and one that we take seriously".

"The harm, the damage that could be caused with these items is significant and we've seen lots of examples of that where wildlife has been really seriously injured and obviously [there has been] significant damage to people's property," he added.

The government said that it believed sufficient wildlife-related legislation was in place to protect wild animals from targeted use of catapults.

"It is illegal to harm a wild bird or protected species of wild mammal," a spokesperson said.

"Catapults should not be used for illegal purposes, whether against people, wildlife or property.

"We continue to keep all relevant legislation under review in the interest of public safety."

Meta has been approached for comment.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.