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Search forFive arrested after officers hurt in pub fracas
Friday, November 21, 2008, 09:42
Police had to call for reinforcements as they dealt with a rowdy family who earlier had been asked to leave the Ship Inn in Manor Road.
Two officers fired pepper spray at the troublemakers when tempers flared in the beer garden at 10.30pm on Wednesday.
Three men and two women were arrested for public order offences after the disturbance.
All five were still being questioned at Torquay Police Station late yesterday afternoon.
Injuries to the officers included bruising and a shoulder injury. One officer was treated at Torbay Hospital's casualty unit.
Torbay Police's Patrol Support Inspector John Phillips said afterwards: "We have taken rigorous steps to eradicate drunken behaviour in our towns — and we will continue to do this if the public feel threatened. This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable."
Ship Inn landlord Chris Lye said he was pleased with the police's prompt and efficient response.
"They handled the situation very well. All the trouble was outside in the beer garden. It had nothing to do with our staff."
A police spokesman said: "Officers attended and found disorder ongoing.
"Such was the level of violence shown towards officers that two of them had to deploy pepper spray."
He added: "The officers were then forced to call for further assistance, making a total of seven police officers at the scene.
"Three men and two women were arrested in connection with public order offences and remain in custody at Torquay."
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