Sutton TikTok blind date - Police prepare for another event

The Metropolitan Police has put in place a section 35 dispersal order to give officers additional powers ahead of an upcoming ‘bind date’ event by a popular influencer on TikTok today (January 27).

It follows a similar event by Croydon-based influencer BusyTV in the town centre last week (January 22), which resulted in officers tussling with a large crowd of school children in High Street.

The TikToker promised the latest in a series of ‘blind dates’, where a couple are set up on a public blind date.

Crowds gather to watch as the couple are asked questions about their dating preferences while blindfolded.

The blindfold is then removed, after the couple are told they should run away if they do not like the other person.

Today, another event was scheduled, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police said should the event escalate in terms of the number of people attending, an order has been put in place from 2pm until 11.59pm.

It means that police can order anyone who is likely to cause anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm or disorder to leave the area for up to 48 hours. 

When the event took place last week, no arrests were made although footage showed the moment that some attendees were being restrained and ordered to move back.

There were also false rumours circulating about a stabbing in the area during the event, although police denied that this happened.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “The Met are aware of a planned gathering of young people in Sutton Town Centre on Tuesday, 27 September.

“Due to concerns for the welfare of the children involved should the event escalate in terms of the number of people attending, a Section 35 dispersal order has been put in place from 14.00hrs until 23.59hrs.

“This means that officers can order anyone who is causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm or disorder to leave the area for up to 48 hours.”