Concern over rise of 'happy slapping' craze

I'm sorry to see this craze is in the news again which means it's still going on, worse, according to this article in The Guardian, it's spreading. Apalling.

"Happy slappers" is a youth craze in which groups of teenagers armed with camera phones slap or mug unsuspecting children or passersby while capturing the attacks on 3g technology.

According to police and anti-bullying organisations, the fad, which began as a craze on the UK garage music scene before catching on in school playgrounds across the capital last autumn, is now a nationwide phenomenon.

And as the craze has spread from London to the home counties to the north of England, so the attacks have become more menacing, with increasing numbers of violent assaults and adult victims.

[...] As police have become more vigilant, so the gangs have become more sophisticated, seeking victims in parks or public areas where their crimes are unlikely to be spotted by the authorities or captured on CCTV."

More on happy slapping craze:

The Mobile Weblog wrote an interesting piece in January on a Tango ad as being the origin of the Happy Slapping fad.

Just fyi the Museum of Hoaxes thinks the fad sounds suspiciously like an urban legend. (I disagree - too many reputable newspapers have written articles and conducted interviews with victims and the police),

Related articles:

-- The Happy Slap collection

-- Sick beating is filmed for fun

-- Happy slap culprits face suspension

-- Schools Ban Camera Phones Amid 'Happy Slapping' Craze

-- Putting the photos in perspective

emily | 11:07 AM | How people and businesses are using videophones |
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