Stories circulating social media of balaclava-clad men mugging students have been debunked by Northumbria Police. In a joint statement alongside both of the city’s universities on 13th February, Police stated that the rumours were false, reassuring students that they are ‘not aware of any incidents taking place which match those listed in these posts’.
The statement goes on to say: ‘Northumbria Police regularly patrol Jesmond, Heaton, Sandyford, Shieldfield and Ouseburn and are in close contact with both Universities. Please be assured, we will always act on any concerns raised by the community.’
These rumours have invariably concerned incidents taking place in and around Newcastle’s thriving suburb of Jesmond, leading to phantom perpetrators earning the moniker of the ‘Jesmond Bally Men’.
One alleged incident involved a group of students walking home from a night out, while another student was said to have been held at knife-point during a home invasion.
Understandably, such stories have lead to heightened anxiety, especially for those who have recently moved to the area. Students, concerned for each other’s safety and wellbeing, began warning one another against walking home alone and encouraging extra caution when locking doors and windows.
One student described how the rumours changed how they felt about the city: “After living in Atlanta, where I’d hear of car thefts and shootings nearby, I felt safe here in Newcastle. Walking alone at night really didn’t worry me too much. But hearing those rumours put me on high alert again.”
While the source and intention of the misinformation remains unclear, what is obvious is that the sharing of rumours relating to the mysterious masked men via social media, knowingly or unknowingly, has increased their reach substantially.
Social media has also been used by some students to make light of a dark situation. On TikTok, some went viral for investigating potential break-ins armed with Stanley mugs, learning self-defence from Youtube, or fearing for the safety of cherished coffee machines, air-fryers, and hamsters.
Nonetheless, while the rumours of the Jesmond Balaclava Men have been disproven, the anxiety felt by many students as a result of the rumours is not unjustified. Rather, it reflects a growing sense of uneasiness alongside increasing numbers of stories of violence against women and girls, as another student alluded to:
“As a woman, I’m already scared to walk alone in the dark, and the hoax made my worries worse. Seeing people make jokes about students’ worries and potential victims was not okay; I don’t believe it reflects well on our student community.”
This period serves to highlight the potential of misinformation to spread via social media platforms, and the care users must take when sharing unverified information online.
Readers can see The Courier’s ‘Stranger Danger’ article for tips on staying safe on a night out by visiting thecourieronline.co.uk. Students are also encouraged to download the free SafeZone app, available to students of both universities, which puts students in contact with University Security Teams 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour can be reported by sending Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or by using the report pages and live chat on the Northumbria Police website. Otherwise, individuals can call 101, or in the case of an emergency or crime taking place, always ring 999.