Latest news with #antisocialBehaviour
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Telegraph
Watch: Bloody brawl at Royal Ascot sparks police investigation
Police have launched an investigation into a bloody brawl that broke out on Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot. Footage emerged on Friday showing two racegoers swinging punches at one other at the event attended by the King, Queen and other senior royals. One of the smartly dressed men is covered in blood after being knocked to the floor in front of shocked onlookers before a group intervene to keep them apart. The racecourse confirmed the brawl took place on Thursday, and that those involved had been ejected. A police spokesperson said: 'We are aware of an affray that has taken place inside Ascot Racecourse yesterday. 'An investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing, and we would ask anyone who recognises the people in the video to please come forward. An Ascot Racecourse spokesperson added of the incident: 'We operate a strict behavioural management policy and take a zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour. Both individuals were apprehended and ejected, with one requiring medical treatment on site.' Police using drones and sniffer dogs to maintain control The brawl took place less than a week after Telegraph Sport revealed police drones, armed patrols and teams of sniffer dogs would be used to target troublemakers at this year's festival. Festivities spilt over into a handful of minor brawls last year, but police said they had a 'comprehensive' plan to keep arrests to a minimum at the meeting, which began on Tuesday. As with all major sporting events, cocaine-use among spectators has become an increasing concern for Royal Ascot in recent years. Police made 36 arrests during last year's festival, the vast majority off site. Allegations included assault, drink-driving and possession of class A drugs. The number of arrests was broadly consistent with previous years, with 35 in 2023. Police worked with Ascot Racecourse Limited and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on this year's security plan. A security clampdown in 2018 led to the first widespread use of sniffer dogs near the main entrances as well as around bar and toilet areas at the site. This year's event has coincided with a heatwave that has led to hundreds of racegoers being treated at the course's medical centre. One spectator who fell ill with suspected heatstroke was sent to hospital on Tuesday, with crowds warned temperatures would reach 31C by Saturday.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Drug use, defecation, and sexual assault: 4,300 messages sent to Irish Rail text line
Irish Rail received nearly 4,300 messages to its dedicated text line for reporting antisocial behaviour on train services last year, with passengers complaining about drug use, violence, sexual assault, and indecent exposure. The shocking incidents that were reported in 2024 include a man defecating in the middle of a carriage, a fist fight involving a man and a woman, a passenger brandishing a sword, and a child being sexually assaulted. Advertisement The appalling insight into criminal and antisocial behaviour on the country's rail network has prompted a government TD to call for a dedicated public transport unit of An Garda Síochána. Records released under freedom of information laws suggest that drugs are regularly being openly abused on train services, with children even observed smoking cannabis on the Dart in January of last year. In February, one commuter texted Irish Rail to report a couple openly using cocaine on a train service with their baby in a pram in front of them, while a man on a train near Killiney last May was reported to have removed his trousers while smoking cannabis. Alcohol consumption was also a recurring problem. On February 29th, a 'violent, aggressive drunk man' was removed from a train at Clara, after which distressed passengers watched him 'vomiting and trying to fight'. Advertisement In July, a passenger contacted Irish Rail to report that a 75-year-old man had exposed himself to a young girl on an afternoon train service. She was 'visibly upset', they added. Similarly, a man on a train heading for Sydney Parade in Dublin last June was reported for 'exposing his d**k', and a man on a train at Booterstown was 'exposing his bare arse to young girls' in January. In May, passengers on a train at Howth Junction were shocked when a rock was thrown through the window, while one commuter reported that a group of 'young lads' had been travelling on the outside of the train before jumping off at Lansdowne Road. A man was reported to have defecated on a train in January and, in an unrelated incident, a passenger discovered 'an actual bag of faeces' in the middle of a carriage in September while travelling to Bray. Advertisement There were a number of complaints about couples engaging in 'sexually explicit acts' on trains. On October 11th, an individual reported that two fellow passengers were 'openly fingering each other and making out'. In late July, a passenger reported that a man and woman were punching each other on board a train, noting that 'she had him in a headlock at one point'. The woman subsequently disembarked at Sandymount. There were several complaints about the presence of blood on walls, windows and seats on carriages, as well as 'puddles' of vomit on floors, and 'dog poo' on some of the seats. In August, a troubling text message reported that a child had been sexually assaulted by a group of adolescents on a train early in the evening. The child disembarked at Bayside station, according to the report. Advertisement There were frequent instances of racist abuse on train services last year. In March, it was reported that two males were racially abusing 'a little boy' on a train, while a woman and her child were the targets of racist abuse near Connollly Station in September. In August, a passenger was made to feel very uncomfortable by a man who was walking up and down the train dressed as a clown. In March, a man boarded a train to Maynooth with a sword, according to two reports. On April 9th, a knife fight was reported on the Sligo-Dublin service around 11am, while a man 'slapped' a girl during a 'lovers' quarrel' on the Howth train near Connolly Station in January. A number of passengers who reported antisocial or criminal behaviour to Irish Rail via the text line said they had to get off the train for their own safety. Advertisement Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin described the incidents described in the text messages as 'awful', and said there was a need to expedite plans for public transport policing contained in the Programme for Government. 'What's proposed at this stage is a standalone public transport service. My own preference would be that it would be a unit of An Garda Síochana,' he said. Ireland Housing target of 41,000 'not realistic', Minister... Read More 'This is why we definitely need to have more monitors, more proactive and visible deterrents on public transport – on carriages and platforms. Nobody wants to see these awful elements, particularly for youngsters. We need to ensure they are safe.' A spokesman for Irish Rail said antisocial behaviour was a societal issue to which train services were not immune, but added that there were a range of proactive and preventative measures in place to address it. 'The text line allows people to discreetly alert us to issues of concern, and is live monitored through our central security hub, who are in direct contact with our security teams on the network to coordinate response,' he explained. 'The vast majority of 50.1 million journeys on our network take place without incident, but we will continue to prioritise prevention of incidents, and rapid response working with our partners.'
BBC News
14-06-2025
- BBC News
Kirkby police given extra powers after town centre trouble
Police have been given extra powers after a rise in criminal damage, abuse of shop staff and dangerous bike riding in a town Sunday night they will be able to arrest anyone who comes back into part of Kirkby, Merseyside, if they have previously been told to leave. Officers will also be able to seize any items that they suspect might be used to commit antisocial behaviour. Merseyside Police Insp Andy Robinson said the powers were not given or used lightly, but were necessary after a recent increase in trouble-making in the area. The area covered by the Section 60 dispersal order includes everywhere within a neighbourhood bordered by County Road, Webster Drive, Cherryfield Drive, and Hall order runs until 01:00 BST on Sunday. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BreakingNews.ie
13-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Consider fines for parents to crackdown on antisocial behaviour in youths, TD says
Fines for parents and curfews should be considered to crackdown on antisocial behaviour by young offenders, according to a Dublin TD. Paul Gogarty said he has received an 'overwhelming amount of queries' from adults in relation to attacks by young people. Advertisement These include sticks, stones, and water being thrown at people with buggies, and shoplifting. Deputy Gogarty believes there should be immediate consequences. Speaking on Newstalk, he said: "I've had an absolutely overwhelming amount of queries from adults in relation either to their children who have been attacked randomly in parks. "Sticks, stones, bricks being thrown at parents with buggies. A woman had three e-scooters pass her back again, throw water over her. "There have been shoplifting incidences in cafes where the bottles have been taken out and then thrown over the staff."
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Darlington bird feeding ban as part of council crackdown
Stricter measures to curb rising antisocial behaviour and feeding pigeons in a town centre are to come into force in Borough Council has updated its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which allows the issuing of fines to people for being abusive or order, granted at a council meeting on Tuesday, is designed to give officers powers to tackle offenders without needing to arrest new restrictions will also bring in a public bird feeding ban, following public safety and health concerns from residents and businesses. The move follows a 125 percent increase in youth-related incidents reported to Cleveland Police, when comparing data from 2023/24 to 2024/ centre officers have reported a rise in people deliberately riding towards members of the public before veering off at the last moment, causing fear of injury and distress. Other problems are being caused by bikers, skateboarders and scooter riders performing stunts and riding recklessly on roads and in pedestrian areas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service addition, people are continuing to feed the "substantial bird population in the town centre", despite signs being put up warning them not to, thereby "contributing to multiple issues for the council, residents and businesses to manage." Adaptations to local buildings and birds of prey being flown have also been used as a deterrent against the pigeons. Meanwhile, the new PSPO, which covers all of the borough, will provide additional powers to combat begging, side waste and stray dogs.A council report stated: "A significant amount of support is in place for those individuals who find themselves homeless and in need of support."Officers will routinely make referrals or signpost these individuals to these services." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
