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Party ends in riot
Exclusive By Lucy Buckland
CCTV images of Chippenham town centre on Thursday night
CCTV images of Chippenham town centre on Thursday night

FIGHTING teenagers caused chaos in Chippenham town centre after a college party turned into a riot.

Police were forced to use pepper spray and dogs to control a gang of 100 unruly teenagers who were swearing and fighting on Thursday evening.

The fighting started when students spilled out of Buds 2000 on Station Hill at midnight and clashed with teenagers from rival colleges.

Seven teenagers were arrested on public order offences but police are appealing for witnesses to help track down other individuals involved.

One partygoer, who does not go to the college, spoke of the terrifying clash.

She said: "It was frightening. I was on my way home when I saw about 100 people gather screaming and shouting.

"I saw punches flying and there was blood all over the pavement just outside Buds.

"Everyone was drunk and shouting at each other. It was horrific."

CCTV images of Chippenham town centre on Thursday night
CCTV images of Chippenham town centre on Thursday night

Several teenagers tried to gatecrash the party at Buds without invitations but were refused entry by bouncers.

It is believed those who were refused entry went to The Brunel pub on New Road and, when the college students were turned out of Buds at closing time, went to confront them. Sgt Martin Alvis of Chippenham Police said: "More than 12 police officers were deployed to the bottom of New Road where a group of around 100 people were causing a disturbance and within that, small pockets of people were engaging in fights.

"Police intervened and dispersed the crowd making seven arrests. Parva spray was used on some of the crowd.We are currently viewing CCTV footage to track offenders that may have got away.

"This sort of antisocial behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will come down tough on those involved."

Director of Student Services at Wiltshire College Bob Turner said: "This was the 31st end of term party organised at Buds night club in the last few years.

"During this time the college has worked hard with Buds' staff to establish a successful management formula that ensures the safety of those attending the events and the college has been delighted with the co-operation of Buds' staff in trying to insure the events are trouble free. A senior member of the college was in attendance until 11.15pm.The college will be co-operating with the police and Buds' management to see what happened and why."

8:32am Thursday 27th March 2008

   

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Posted by: donteventhinkit on 8:58am Thu 27 Mar 08
"what happened and why" oh lets see tenns alcohol and 2 groups it doesnt take a brain surgeon to work it out.Where i used to live we couldnt get a venue to hold the college parties because of the fighting they tried ticket only they tried week nights not weekends they tried tutor attendence at the end of it you can garentee some idiots cant handle the drink and it all kicks off.Then of course people want to know whats happening making it a large group then the law arrive making for an even larger group as everyone wants the gossip in the end nobody presses charges for the fights best off just to let them beat each other senseless and crawl home.
Posted by: Gavin Swingewood, Calne / Chippenham on 9:16am Thu 27 Mar 08
I'm sorry, but 'donteventhinkit' do you go to these partys? No. And the Gazette have over estimated the amount of youths involved in the fight. These where small scuffles, similiar to fights that occur every saturday night outside of Chicko Land which is a known flash point for agressive behavior , singling out the college party as the cause of these incidents is unfair the gazzette seems to have sensationlised the event. I saw no blood in the streets. So 'donteventhinkit' and 'Gazette And Herald', you're both wrong about this.
Posted by: Matt, chippenham on 9:28am Thu 27 Mar 08
I think the police reation of this event was totaly over the top. 100 unruly youths.. no? the camera eveidance shows there were no more than 50 people. police are saying that there were 100 youths so they can get away with letting there dogs loose and biting inoccent youths. They cannot enforce law this way because its teaching youths nothing. whos going to beheave when you can still get bitten by a dog for NO REASON. i know two people who got bitten by the dogs for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. police seem to ready to react with violence to situation that could be defused by talking. its more as if the police are trying to make a name for themselves. i would never rely on the police they have twisted view and look down on youths and asume they are trouble makers.
Posted by: betty swallocks, NWilts on 9:40am Thu 27 Mar 08
A few children who can't handle their pop, followed by handbags outside.Good job police, give these idiots a reality check.And raise the drinking age to 21,by which time they might have learned to spell.
Posted by: Chipsticks, Chippenham on 9:57am Thu 27 Mar 08
a few idiots scrapping is nothing new is it? This happens every friday and saturday night in chippenham. But...lock 'em up and it might put 'em off!
Posted by: donteventhinkit, Corsham on 11:09am Thu 27 Mar 08
Oh darn you missed the abusive full of ***** signs post they removed it lol.Anyway to Gavin no i dont attend these parties anymore since im 28 but the fact remains there has always been and will always be fights where alcohol is involved there will always be a minority who just dont know there limit and wallop someone looks at them funny and it all kicks off.I was there when Calne had its "riot" outside the kings that was not a riot either but it didnt stop the law and the press saying it was when frankly that was your usual friday/saturday night outside the kings.Still that doesnt detract from the fact these lot should be left to fight it out and crawl home
Posted by: Matt, chippenham on 11:22am Thu 27 Mar 08
ha nice one coming with the smug shots about my spelling. You just need to experiance a evening where the police come grab your mates by the throat and throwing them up against a wall all for asking him for a lighter.. i bet you’ve never been about when the police are about thats why you think you can just sit there and post comments like that.
Posted by: Student@wiltscoll, Chippenham on 11:50am Thu 27 Mar 08
I did not attend this party, but I do understand that the college are doping everything to find out what happened and the culprits will be punished in the correct way. But I do also think that spending your time arguing with each other on a forum is not going to work, if these situations are going to be sorted out so they don’t happen again I think people need to start working together. Yes! I do agree that the police have a bad opinion of students, but after Thursday I can hardly say I can blame them. I also hope that those involved are ashamed of what they did and that they get the B**ls to come forward and admit that what they did was wrong
Posted by: kinger90, Chippenham on 11:52am Thu 27 Mar 08
I do not agree with what the report says there was not 100 people and it was a few scraps. I do agree with the fact that these fights happened because of young people drinking. However there were a lot of people who were involved in the fight who were being sold alcohol illegally at Buds. I dont think that the drinking age should be put up to 21 because there are a lot of teenagers who go out on friday and saturday nights and do have a few drinks but never get into any problems. There were people who were attacked by the police dogs who were not fighting and just happened to be in the place at the wrong. People shouldnt brand all teenagers as they dont all cause fights!!!!
Posted by: betty swallocks, NWilts on 12:06pm Thu 27 Mar 08
OK Matt,serious head on now. I wasn't there, but obviously a small minority were causing some sort of trouble, and the police had to deal with it. I can only echo Student@wiltscoll's sentiments. This can be dealt with internally. The police have better things to do. In my youth, I too got drunk as a skunk, and spent a night in the cells for my trouble. I learnt from that experience, and have kept my nose clean ever since.My only advice is know when you've had enough to drink,stand near a fire exit, and walk away from trouble if at all possible.I too, was once young and stupid, and thought I knew it all. Enough pontificating.Enjoy your youth...being an adult sucks!One question...how do you students afford it? Cheers, betty.
Posted by: blonde with brains, Chippenham on 12:42pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Firstly, looking at the cctv in this artical. There certainly wasn't 100+ 'youths'. The police certainly over reacted. Also to the gazetteandherald your not actually allowed to call door staff 'bouncers' any more, but only door staff or door supervisors. Secondly at college parties at buds the security needs to be tighter, the amount of people who use their brother or sister's ID to show their over 18 is silly and people aren't checking properly. I do agree on the comment, that in this artical is does make out that teens are drunks and thugs, maybe some are but it's unfair to label everyone. I also agree that the drinking age should stick to 18. Again not everyone is a drunken thug and there are usually fights in Chippenham. It happens and over the smallest little thing.
I hope the police and college get to the bottom of the issue.
Posted by: Sara, Chippenham on 2:01pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I don't think it really matters about the minor over exaggeration of how many youths were involved to be honest. What does matter is how frequently this occurs. Every single Thurs, Fri, Sat there are continual scuffles outside Chickoland etc. because of youths that want to drink and have been sold alcohol illegally. Why drink? As there's nothing else to do. A greater responsibility needs to be placed on bar staff to check ID and stop serving people when they've clearly had too many! I don't blame the police for their involvement in this issue. Something drastic needs to be done against youths like this as Chippenham is just becoming an unsafe haven for youths who maliciously enjoy getting into fights to 'prove' how 'hard' they are. Its ridiculous.
Posted by: Charlotte, chippenham on 2:13pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I was at the Buds party and there were Not 100+ people involved. The police have certainly over reacted and so have the college. There was no need to bring those dogs out that night, and two of my best mates were bitten by them and they were not even involved in the fighting. This is all pathetic, there are always fights in Chippenham town centre but it never gets taken this far. Maybe its because we are younger I don't no.
Posted by: blaiz, chippenham on 2:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
'Blonde with brains' - I think you will find that you don't actually need to be 18 to go to a college party. Therefore, the door supervisors do not need to ID them! However, they do need to be 18 to drink. Everyone 18 or over had to show ID to a college representative, who then issued them with a wrist band to save any confusion with the bar staff. However, this obviously does not stop drinking on the streets or inside the other pubs (taking into consideration it reports that several people were turned away from Buds). The papers also don't comment on the fact that the fighting was not inside Buds, however, the door staff put themselves in danger by helping to break up the fighting and dispersing the crowds. Well done to you all, I think you all deserve a little bit of gratitude once in a while!
Posted by: Sara, Chippenham on 3:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The police haven't overreacted at all. How else are we going to sort out situations like this and more importantly stop them from happening again, unless an authorities figure steps in and takes action to deter youths from persistently breaking the law and causing unnecessary conflict? Chippenham has a major problem at the moment, and I'm glad to see the police stepping in and making their presence known.
Posted by: Matt, chippenham on 4:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
im glad more then one person can come forward and tell everyone that innocent people got biten by a " police Officer " they need to control there actions!
Posted by: betty swallocks, NWilts on 5:04pm Thu 27 Mar 08
"biten by a police officer"....grounds for assault there, I think.
Posted by: Yali, UK on 5:08pm Thu 27 Mar 08
usual excuses from the little darlings who can.t handle half a shandy. Don,t cause trouble then whınge when you get a slap you lıttle halfwıts,
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 5:40pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Blesss You Yali,, Obviously Don't Know What Your On About. You Chat Bareeee **** Mate. Keep Your Chin Up Though (Y)
Posted by: Ged, Chippenham on 9:03pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Charlotte wrote:
I was at the Buds party and there were Not 100+ people involved. The police have certainly over reacted and so have the college. There was no need to bring those dogs out that night, and two of my best mates were bitten by them and they were not even involved in the fighting. This is all pathetic, there are always fights in Chippenham town centre but it never gets taken this far. Maybe its because we are younger I don't no.
simple solution? Get out of the area! Why did your friends hang about? Were they waiting for something to happen? If so.. it did.. to them!
Posted by: ohmygosh, Chippenham on 10:01pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Ok, I was there on the night, sober! There were 100+ involved, separate groups of 15-20 lads scrapping, rolling in the road, up station Hill & outside Chickoland, it was ridiculous!! Only 1 police dog was there, as far as I am concerned the dog only got involved in actual fights, so if you were bitten, you were involved, I heard the police shouting get back, leave the area or you'll get bitten loads of times, easy to say 'I was innocent' the police were over the top etc. The few police who attended were very lucky not to get hurt themselves, good on em I say, this group was outta control and deserved what they got, hopefully more will get nicked!!
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 10:07pm Thu 27 Mar 08
^^^^ I Love That Posting :L I Heard It All Now!
Posted by: Joe, Calne on 11:07pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I think when this kind of thing happens sensible people do the sensible thing and get out the way and go home.
The police should take a robust approach to this kind of behaviour and im sure the cctv images when used in court will help prove innocent or guilty those involved so the innocent have nothing to fear and the guilty everything.
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 9:28am Fri 28 Mar 08
Well Said Joe (Y)Well Put Mate :D
Posted by: ohmygosh, Chippenham on 1:52pm Fri 28 Mar 08
*Gilesy* wrote:
^^^^ I Love That Posting :L I Heard It All Now!
Which Posting? If you are refering to mine,what do you mean exactly??
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 6:59pm Fri 28 Mar 08
"there wasn't 100 - only about 50"

That's OK then!

"Chicko land is a known flashpoint for aggressive behaviour"

Ahha so CHICKEN FILLETS are the problem - not the boozed up little indulged Twits roaming round outside.

Please accept responsibility for your own actions and not try to justify it as normal.
Posted by: Student@wiltscoll, Chippenham on 9:26am Mon 31 Mar 08
CAN I JUST SAY THAT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT ITS GOING TO HELP IF YOU ALL JUST SIT AT YOUR DESKS "****" TO EACH THER ABPUT HE WHO DAM EVENT. ITS POINTLESS. And never the less 1: The college open the party the all the students at the college or they would be in breach of their own "E&D Agenda" and 2: All in attendence at the party who were 18+ did have wristbands on to prove it. 3: It does not matter if you stopped to talk to somebody or to get food at the bottom of the street, everyone does every day of the weekend. 4: the town is not an unsafe haven for youths, omehow the party got leaked online and a lot of unwelcome people turend and and we not allowed in to the party "as the report say's" SO IF YOU WOULD LIEK TO CARRY ON YOUR LITTLE "****" FIGHT, COULD YU ALL DO IT SOMEWERE ELSE, AS THIS IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE MATTER ONE BIT.
Posted by: michip, Chippenham on 2:37pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Its ok wearing wristbands to say you're 18 but shouldn't the bar staff ask to see them?
And how about the bar staff continuing to serve the drinks when its obvious that the customer is drunk? I'm not just blaming Buds on this one because Elevens do the same then complain when they have to ask people to leave as they are too drunk!!! I think there has been faults on all sides but its all been blown out of proportion. I know of someone that was arrested but had nothing to do with the "riot" and has been suspended from college. He knows that he was in the wrong and is taking his punishment from the police but this is unfair. The college is also at fault as the party was only supervised till 11.15 when the party ended at 12. Lets not just blame the students eh??
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 10:22am Tue 1 Apr 08
That Is A Good Comment Above (Y) Very Well Said And Understandable. My Mate Got Suspended Yesterday Even Tho He Was Arrested Bout Three Hours After All This Happened And It Was His Birthday To Top It Off .. Bit Wrong Ent It ? The Writer Has Just Blown All This Over Deliberately So He Can Get People To Buy It Etc To See What Has Been Put. They Chat Bareeee Shitt :L
Posted by: michip, Chippenham on 7:11pm Tue 1 Apr 08
It turns out that we're on about the same person Gilesy and although the college knows that he was not involved, the suspension still stands!!! How unfair!!!!!
Posted by: Worried, Chippenham on 12:17am Wed 2 Apr 08
Up the Police action! More dogs, harsher scentences, more arrests. If you break the law deal with the consequences and if you don't like what you see from the police then go home rather than stand around and wait to get bitten by a dog or arrested. College students of Chippenham - shame on you.
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 11:09am Wed 2 Apr 08
Ye I Think We Are :D Shocking Treatment To A Top Lad :( . Ha 'Worried' Says It All 2Bh .. Shame On Us ? You Don't Know What Your On About Bless. You Sound Like Your Older Than Myself An Others So Ey ? We All Are Young Once .. We All Like A Laugh Have A Drink And Have Sum Fun We All End Up In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time And We All End Up In Trouble With The Place An Get A Little Telling Off Etc But ... Getting Bitten By Dogs Or Harsh Police Tactics Is Ok ? I Know Sometimes Ye Its Difficult For You To Control SomeOne Is **** And Roudy At The Same Time But It Doesnt Justify How Someone Should Get Bitten Or Arrested For Merely Being There. I Can Understand To A Certain Extent Etc And I Praise Them To An Extent For Being Couragious Etc But Sometimes Theres A Line And Dogs Biting You And Arrest To The Wrong People Is Just Abit Over The Line.
Posted by: *Gilesy*, Corsham on 11:10am Wed 2 Apr 08
MISTAKE !! End Up In The Wrong *** Police At The Wrong Time And We All
Posted by: vodo90, CHIPPENHAM on 12:15pm Wed 2 Apr 08
what a load of rubbish there wasnt blood or pepper spray and the women who had the only police dog had no control of it and it was bitting people there wasnt 100 people and half the people there werent even collage students. IT WASNT A RIOT IT WAS JUST RANDOM FIGHTS ONLY ONE PERSON GOT REALLY HURT.!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Charlotte, chippenham on 2:06pm Thu 3 Apr 08
GED - simple solution? Get out of the area! Why did your friends hang about? Were they waiting for something to happen? If so.. it did.. to them!

My friends were not just hanging about, can we not go to chickoland after a good night? They were not standing there waiting for something to happen! The police shouldn't have brought the dogs out, my mate wouldn't have got bitten if the police didn't over react!
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