Students' party ends in mass brawl
EDUCATION chiefs at Wiltshire College are threatening disciplinary action against any students involved in a mass brawl in Chippenham at the weekend.
Seven people were arrested when a fracas broke out in the town centre following an end of term party hosted for students from the college at Buds nightclub in Station Hill, pictured.
Around ten police officers from Chippenham and others from Trowbridge were called in to deal with the trouble just after midnight, as crowds swarmed around the town centre and nearby takeaway shops.
Fights started in New Road and continued onto Station Hill.
Those arrested for public order offences were between 17 and 20 and were at the event, which had been planned by staff at Buds and the college and had been held over the past few years at the club.
One member of staff from the nearby Brunel pub, who was finishing her shift, said she saw crowds of youths in the street.
She said: "We were cleaning up at the time, but there were young people everywhere, well over 100.
"I just saw one boy trying to hit out at police officers and loads of other teenagers screaming and shouting all around him."
Bob Turner, director of student services at Wiltshire College said a senior member of staff was with the students until 11.15pm, but many uninvited guests had tried to join the festivities.
He said: "There were no incidents in the party and the young people who attended enjoyed a good disco.
"Quite clearly something went wrong once the party ended at midnight and partygoers did not heed advice to disperse and go home.
"The college will be cooperating with the police and Buds management to establish exactly what happened and why.
"Any students found to be in breach of the college's code of conduct will face disciplinary action.
"Only students and guests with tickets and ID are allowed in the club and only those over 18 are served alcoholic drinks."
Chippenham police sergeant Martin Alvis said photographs of the troublemakers would be circulated around local nightclubs and pubs as part of the Pubwatch initiative.
He said: "We take a very dim view of anyone that gets involved in drunken behaviour like this. We dealt positively with those responsible.
"We are very keen to stamp out this type of crime."
Some of the offenders were cautioned following the fight, but some were issued with £80 fines.
It is thought those responsible caused several simultaneous fights but not all of the 100-strong crowd of youths had been involved.
No one at Buds nightclub was available for comment.
9:44am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Russell Hawker, WESTBURY on 8:22pm Fri 28 Mar 08
There's something about Chippenham which leads to locals having a mass brawl once in a while.
The biggest brawl I have ever seen in my life was in Chippenham Neeld Hall in 1981.
My brother and I had hired the hall and about 10 stewards (bouncers) to put on a public disco.
The place was packed out all night. At the end, the bar staff called time and a lot of the bikers / rockers tried to keep ordering more pints and then held on to their glasses when the bar staff tried to pack up and collect the empties.
The result was absolute mayhem. The stewards tried to calm everything and then the whole place went into a swarming mass of everyone throwing punches at anyone who came close.
I even saw some women hit a few people. Normally, I'd expect women to scream in that situation ... but ... oh no. They actually joined in or just watched.
The police were useless. They waited outside until everyone finished for about 40 minutes and then about 20 or 25 of them came in and arrested the ones that the bar staff pointed at.
It reminded me of some American Western films where a brawl breaks out in a large bar and table and chairs get broken. In this case, several tables and lots of glasses were broken.
Funnily enough, I seemed to be the only male non-Policeman who did not get hit.
There's something about Chippenham which leads to locals having a mass brawl once in a while.
The biggest brawl I have ever seen in my life was in Chippenham Neeld Hall in 1981.
My brother and I had hired the hall and about 10 stewards (bouncers) to put on a public disco.
The place was packed out all night. At the end, the bar staff called time and a lot of the bikers / rockers tried to keep ordering more pints and then held on to their glasses when the bar staff tried to pack up and collect the empties.
The result was absolute mayhem. The stewards tried to calm everything and then the whole place went into a swarming mass of everyone throwing punches at anyone who came close.
I even saw some women hit a few people. Normally, I'd expect women to scream in that situation ... but ... oh no. They actually joined in or just watched.
The police were useless. They waited outside until everyone finished for about 40 minutes and then about 20 or 25 of them came in and arrested the ones that the bar staff pointed at.
It reminded me of some American Western films where a brawl breaks out in a large bar and table and chairs get broken. In this case, several tables and lots of glasses were broken.
Funnily enough, I seemed to be the only male non-Policeman who did not get hit.
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 6:18am Sat 29 Mar 08
That's twice in 25 years Russell. Chippenham really is becoming Dodge City!
That's twice in 25 years Russell. Chippenham really is becoming Dodge City!
Posted by: YetiJoe, Trow on 10:41am Sat 29 Mar 08
Ban alcohol sales to under 25's.
Sod their rights, I want my right to avoid a bunch of poxy drunk scum kids making it unpleasant for me and mine to have a night out in town without worrying about "what you looking at" or "think your big then" - or whatever the equivalent in polish is ;).
Alcohol abuse is the biggest curse in our society right now. Drastic measures needed.
Ban alcohol sales to under 25's.
Sod their rights, I want my right to avoid a bunch of poxy drunk scum kids making it unpleasant for me and mine to have a night out in town without worrying about "what you looking at" or "think your big then" - or whatever the equivalent in polish is ;).
Alcohol abuse is the biggest curse in our society right now. Drastic measures needed.
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