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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Police deny 'heavy handed' claims | Police deny 'heavy handed' claims |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in Londonderry have said they will co-operate with any investigation into weekend disturbances. | |
| They have rejected claims by Sinn Fein that its officers were heavy handed during trouble in the city. | They have rejected claims by Sinn Fein that its officers were heavy handed during trouble in the city. |
| Five officers received minor injuries and one civilian were hurt during the violence on Shipquay Street on Sunday. | |
| Sinn Fein want the Police Ombudsman's Office to investigate the trouble. One man, who was arrested, has been released on bail. | |
| Equipment, valued at thousands of pounds, was also damaged in a BBC marquee. | Equipment, valued at thousands of pounds, was also damaged in a BBC marquee. |
| Local assembly member Martina Anderson said her party had been contacted by parents who claimed police had "assaulted" their children. | Local assembly member Martina Anderson said her party had been contacted by parents who claimed police had "assaulted" their children. |
| "The common belief is that a relatively minor scuffle between two individuals spiralled out of control following the intervention of a large number of PSNI personnel," she said. | "The common belief is that a relatively minor scuffle between two individuals spiralled out of control following the intervention of a large number of PSNI personnel," she said. |
| Ms Anderson said that she condemned the rioting in the city, but "would not condone excessive force by the PSNI". | Ms Anderson said that she condemned the rioting in the city, but "would not condone excessive force by the PSNI". |
| Whatever's happened here, whatever the police are perceived to have done or not done, can never justify what we saw here on Sunday morning Chief Inspector Chris Yates | Whatever's happened here, whatever the police are perceived to have done or not done, can never justify what we saw here on Sunday morning Chief Inspector Chris Yates |
| However, Chief Inspector Chris Yates said police run an operation in Derry city centre every Friday and Saturday night to stop assaults. | However, Chief Inspector Chris Yates said police run an operation in Derry city centre every Friday and Saturday night to stop assaults. |
| "This operation's been very successful over previous years and has reduced city centre assaults by over 50%," CI Yates said. | "This operation's been very successful over previous years and has reduced city centre assaults by over 50%," CI Yates said. |
| He said the officers were in the area "to stop fights and if they see a fight they're bound to intervene". | He said the officers were in the area "to stop fights and if they see a fight they're bound to intervene". |
| "Whatever's happened here, whatever the police are perceived to have done or not done, can never justify what we saw here on Sunday morning," he added. | "Whatever's happened here, whatever the police are perceived to have done or not done, can never justify what we saw here on Sunday morning," he added. |
| "Bricks, bottles and paving slabs and fencing panels being thrown at police and thousands of pounds worth of damage done to property." | "Bricks, bottles and paving slabs and fencing panels being thrown at police and thousands of pounds worth of damage done to property." |
| He said about 50 to 100 people were engaged in rioting although up to 300 were on the streets at the time. | He said about 50 to 100 people were engaged in rioting although up to 300 were on the streets at the time. |
| Foyle DUP MLA William Hay said it was unacceptable behaviour. | Foyle DUP MLA William Hay said it was unacceptable behaviour. |
| "Every right thinking person across the city, irrespective of where they live, would condemn this," he said. | "Every right thinking person across the city, irrespective of where they live, would condemn this," he said. |
| "Everybody believes we left this behind us and the city centre can be shared... there can be no excuse for it." | "Everybody believes we left this behind us and the city centre can be shared... there can be no excuse for it." |
| Police are examining CCTV footage of the disturbances. | Police are examining CCTV footage of the disturbances. |