Happy slapping

In the United Kingdom in 2005, Happy slapping is the term used to describe the phenomenon of individuals or groups slapping or striking a stranger while an accomplice films the assault using a camera phone or smart phone. Said to have first become popular in the UK garage music scene, the happy slapping craze has been embraced by a growing number of British teens and is now more typically associated with chav or ghetto culture. Although the concept of filming a crime is an old one, the presence of video cameras in mobile phones means that such attacks need not be pre-empted, and are more easily shown off afterwards.

Happy slapping can often escalate into something more violent than a mere slap. Sometimes the assault is performed in conjunction with other crimes such as mugging. Variations of the "happy slap" have been reported in Northern Ireland where groups of youths have filmed vicious attacks on firecrews. Two youths were convicted for setting fire to a man during a "happy slap" in 2005.

Media commentators have linked the craze to a general yob culture.

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