Officers called in to quell Travellers' mass Christmas brawl - Tayside

From STV

Officers from two police forces were needed to quell a riot at a caravan park after a travelling community's Christmas party descended into a mass brawl.

Officers struggled to contain the Travellers and used CS spray and drew batons as at least five people fought with each other on the council-backed site.

At Perth Sheriff Court on Friday, three of the Travellers admitted their part in the festive disturbance and were fined a total of £795.

Fiscal depute Carol Whyte told the court: "This was at the caravan park at Greenacres. At 11.20pm on Christmas Day police received several calls in relation to an ongoing disturbance.

"When police arrived there were several people there. Alexander Reid was fighting with his brother Duncan Reid. Alexander Reid was shouting and swearing at his brother.

"They were all under the influence of alcohol and tempers were high. There were initially only two officers and they made an attempt to defuse the situation.

"One officer stood between the brothers but punches continued to be thrown. Police were of the view their safety was threatened and PC Scott Ferguson deployed CS spray.

"They requested other officers to attend. James Reid approached the officers. He was shouting and swearing and acting aggressively."

She said officers drew their batons and as one of the brothers was being arrested they could hear a further disturbance coming from a nearby "chalet".

James Reid was seen struggling with Steven Townsley and he was shouting "you're all f****** dead."

Alexander Reid, 44, James Reid, 37, and Steven Townsley, 41, all admitted breaching the peace at Greenacres on Christmas Day and they were each fined £265.

Solicitor Ruben Murdanaigum, defending, said: "They live on the caravan site and they are all travelling people. What happened was on Christmas Day and it was quite memorable for them all.

"The travelling fraternity on the caravan site had organised a Christmas party and it was in full swing when Alexander Reid became aware of two female neighbours fighting with each other.

"He went to separate them. It then deteriorated and police arrived. There had been a lot of drink consumed. They apologise for what happened. They made fools of themselves.

"They felt they let not only themselves down, but also members of their own families. They all spent the night in the police station before being released the next day."

Sheriff Mungo Bovey said: "This was a disturbance which required the police to attend and they do that at the taxpayers expense."

Officers from both Tayside Police and Fife Constabulary had to be called in to deal with the incident at the park near Kelty in Fife.