The John Ruskin College lockdown was triggered after a masked teenager was seen chasing another young person across the campus grounds carrying what appeared to be a machete.
The frightening episode unfolded at about 5pm on Tuesday, September 30, at the college on Selsdon Park Road in south Croydon. Mobile phone footage of the incident appears to show the suspect — dressed head to toe in black with his face covered — sprinting after another individual across the college grounds while carrying the long-bladed weapon.
A student, who asked not to be named, described how the suspect had been seen loitering outside the college’s smoking area before the chase began. As soon as another young person stepped out of the building, the masked youth allegedly ran at them with the blade in his hand. The witness said the sight left them feeling frightened and stunned that something like this could happen at their college on an ordinary school day.
In the footage, other students and members of staff can be seen nearby as the pursuit unfolds, before the suspect is shown leaving the college grounds still carrying the weapon.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were sent to the college at about 5.08pm after reports that a person had been seen with a bladed weapon. By the time they arrived, however, the suspect had already fled the scene. A police spokesman said: “No arrests have been made and officers are seeking to locate the suspect, who is believed to be a teenager.” He added that no injuries had been reported and that the college had been temporarily placed on lockdown while officers carried out their enquiries.
Nearby Quest Academy also went into lockdown as a precaution. The school later confirmed that pupils were kept on site until officers gave the all-clear, after which students were allowed to make their way home.
How college lockdowns work
A lockdown is one of the most serious responses a school or college can deploy, reserved for moments when there is a direct threat on or very near the site — such as an intruder, a weapon sighting or a serious incident unfolding nearby. When the order is given, students and staff are told to stay inside their classrooms, lock doors, close windows and blinds, and keep quiet while registers are taken to account for everyone. Colleges usually update parents and carers by text or email so phone lines stay clear for the emergency services, and nobody is allowed in or out until police confirm the site is safe. Staff rehearse these drills so that a campus of hundreds, like John Ruskin College, can be secured within minutes when every second counts.
Keeping young people safe from knife crime
Incidents involving teenagers and blades remain a persistent worry across the capital, and officers urge anyone who sees a weapon — on campus or on the street — to move away and call 999 rather than try to intervene. Parents are encouraged to talk openly with their children about the dangers of carrying knives and to raise any concerns with the college’s safeguarding team or with police. The Metropolitan Police also backs a range of youth outreach programmes aimed at steering young Londoners away from knife carrying. Anyone with information about the John Ruskin College incident can call police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Investigation continues
Officers are continuing their enquiries to identify and trace the masked teenager, and the investigation remains active. The college has been approached for comment. Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened is asked to come forward. This article will be updated as more details emerge.
