Chief Refutes Brutality Claim over Street Party
A CLAIM of police brutality and over reaction in dealing with a disturbance involving 200 people in Leeds has been refuted by a senior officer.
One witness, who asked not to be named, told the Yorkshire Evening Post people were bitten by police dogs and others struck by batons as officers in riot gear dispersed a crowd in Hyde Park, Leeds, early on Saturday. He claimed there was no police request to disperse or warning.
The problem flared when a house party in Hessle Terrace, Hyde Park, Leeds, spilled out on to the streets.
But today Pudsey-Weetwood Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Howard Crowther said that drunken revellers ignored repeated requests to disperse, threw missiles at police and reinforcements were needed to quell the disorder.
He said no-one had been seriously injured, and three arrests were made for public order offences.
One man who arrived part-way through the incident said partygoers were pushed from Hessle Terrace into adjacent Brudenell Road.
He said that though “people were milling around” they were not aggressive.
He said that after police regrouped their ranks had parted to allow dog handlers through and he was bitten in the leg by one dog, a friend was pulled to the ground and bitten on the back of the knee and backside and a third man was bitten on the chest.
“At no point was any warning given to clear the house party or clear the streets. The police behaviour was an absolute disgrace. They charged at the really scared crowd and beat at them with batons,”
claimed the man.
But Chief Supt Crowther said: “We received calls in the early hours of Saturday morning from members of the public concerned about a party in the Hessle Terrace area of Hyde Park that had got out of hand. Initially, two officers were sent to the area and were faced with a group of between 200 and 300 people who were in drink and unwilling to listen to the officers’ advice.”
The situation deteriorated and it was necessary to deploy further resources to the area in order to disperse the crowd, said Chief Supt Crowther.
“The crowd was asked to disperse a number of times but refused. Missiles were thrown at officers, though no officers were injured.”
“Key to any investigation into this will be why a party of this scale was permitted by the residential owners in this area.”
He added police had not received any complaints about the way they handled the incident.
Last Updated: 09 May 2007 2:19 PM
