Rampaging neds

[enigma]

Why do some people struggle to grasp the meaning of 'family event' ? I'm gutted today after having taken my kids to the annual Big in Falkirk festival yesterday. On route to the park , with my three young kids in tow , a woman was dancing (drunk) with a bottle of buckfast in the street shouting to 'get the party started'. This should have been an indication of things to come but I dismissed it , thinking that she would be picked up by one of the many police officers who were supposed to be in attendance , in accordance with the 'Zero tolerance' policy which they allegedly have. Instead , as we waited patiently in the queue for the bouncy castle , a large group of youths - not content with having ripped out the signpost for the secret garden - invaded the bouncy castle demanding to get on , frightening all the kids. The amount of filthy language , swearing etc and people swigging from alcoholic bottles - when glass was banned from the park - was an absolute disgrace.

Fearing for my kids' safety , after more battles were breaking out , I left the park (cursing my hubby who didn't come with us because he wanted to see the footy) On the way out , I had to plead with a drunken teenager who was asking people if they wanted to see his **** , to keep it zipped if not for our sake , for the kids' sake. Fights were breaking out everywhere it seemed in the town centre and even on the bus there was no escape. A group of wee neds challenged a group at the bus station to a fight and one guy jumped on the bus to haul him and his friends off - the inspector and driver said and did nothing. So we had to sit with terrified kids screaming in horror until some of them took it onto the street. The remaining lot sat spouting foul language , chanting sectarian songs and inciting violence.

[enigma]

One stop on , teenagers were throwing bricks at each other in the churchyard. Where were the police ? Good question. There presence was minimal in the park and more so in the town centre. I was told that the police had to split there resources between policing the Falkirk game and Big in Falkirk and the fact that the old firm game was on , was a recipe for disaster. The funfair had been cancelled to in a bid to cut out the element hell bent on wreaking havoc. Hmm , guess that didn't work. They just spent more time in the beer tent. I've seen minor skirmishes in the past but nothing like this , so if you were in charge of next year's event , how would you prevent something like this from happening again ? Personally , I think ensuring that it's not scheduled for an old firm game would be a start.

[annie0000]

Hi Enigma - we were there yesterday as well, we didn't see the kind of trouble that you did, but I have no doubt that it was going on givin the "clientele" we spotted - we left about 4ish though. We still had the local neds on the bus on the way back to the park and ride, puking up in the back and having a general carry on. I really don't know why we bothered, and it just reminded me why I don't want to live in Falkirk! Incidentally, I saw oe of the supposed monitors on the gate obviously the worse for wear when we were leaving, so it is not surprising that the no alcohol ban was being broken! Never again! Every year we take the kids into the Edinburgh Festival for the day to see some of the street theatre and soak up the atmosphere, you never get anything like that display.

[Goodsoulette]

What a cr@ppy day out. I do find when you ask people even when trashed not to do something "because of the children" they tend to listen to what you have said.

I have no idea what Could change things like this from happening. Its just the way of the world I think.

Ill add I dont blame the bus driver for saying nothing, I would wade into a fight for 7 quid an hour. Maybe a phone call to the police might have helped but if all hell had broken loose by the sounds of it, they probs wouldnt have come anyway.

[enigma]

Hi Annie. We arrived late at the park so didn't leave until about 6pm , which seemed to be 'kicking off' time. It really was an absolute disgrace and spoiled what should have been a great family day out. To think that we were initially worried about the weather causing us problems ! I don't know if the fact that there was an old firm game being played on the same day , just aggravated the situation. It certainly can't have helped , that's for sure. I was just so disgusted by the fact that those involved in the various skirmishes in and around town , could not have cared less that young children were witness to these events and indeed were becoming caught up in the middle of them.

Last year , there were dozens of officers lined up outside Callander house in the park and many more on foot patrol , bikes etc but these year I counted two on one hill , two on another and a few on bikes - all of whom seemed to miss the fights which I saw. Okay granted , there were no major incidents within the park itself but the town centre was another matter. I doubt very much if I will take my kids back next year , no matter how much Central Scotland police try to reassure the public about 'zero tolerance'. I wonder how today's event is going because it's a two day thing remember. I just hope that the fact it's raining today is the only letdown the kids get and that the neds are all too hungover - if not bound over until tuesday to cause any more mayhem.

[fine,thanks]

enigma, you have stated your experience extremely well today and i hope you will contact either the police or your local councillor re you and your families experience. what about a letter to the local newspaper ?

[enigma]

In fairness , the guy who wanted to unzip himself did stop when I begged him not to but the others carried on regardless with loutish behaviour. The thing which really maddened me about the bus driver though Goddsoulette was the fact that we got on at the bus station and an inspector was on the bus talking to the driver when they were all shouting and swearing. A guy jumped on the bus with his friends to drag some of them off because they had been gesturing towards them at the window and the inspector let the others stay on and simply walked off. At the next stop , the driver said (in the tone you would take with a three year old - not an angry one though) 'Now i'll give you one warning , then another , then i'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave'. They just laughed at him. He issued another ten warnings in total , they continued to abuse fellow passengers , launched objects , fought amongst themselves and one guy passed out cold - to which they all cheered. When we got off the bus , I told the driver that if he had put them off after the first warning , then my kids wouldn't have had to listen to that all the way back and he told me that he wasn't allowed to eject them from the bus because they were under 16 and he'd get into trouble. They didn't look under 16 and were clearly VERY intoxicated. He didn't ask them for ID on the bus but accepted them as half fares when they asked for it. The sooner I learn to drive the better and i'll be choosier about where I take my kids next year I think.

Fine , thanks - Already on it. Letter drafted to Chief constable already and will speak to my MSP too. I am swithering whether or not to submit a letter to the local paper because I know that they will most probably be inundated anyway.

[annie0000]

Hi Enigma - I am glad we left when we did - I for one will never be back - as you say, why would you want to subject your kids to that! My two sat on the bus with eyes like saucers. We have taken the kids to some folk festivals and things all over Scotland, where people are enjoying a drink but have never had anything but good vibes. What is it with a certain element of the community that they can only enjoy themselves at everyone elses expense?

[annie0000]

Also, my recommendation for a good feeling day out is the Bridge of Allan Highland Games - you could always get the train up.

[enigma]

I used to live near Stirling Annie and i'm ashamed to say that i've never actually been to the Bridge of Allan Highland Games but I will make a point of taking my kids. I always meant to go but something always came up. Next time though.

[annie0000]

I've lived in Stirling for 3 years now and love it I moved here from Edinburgh with a short pitstop in Denny on the way - hence my aversion to Falkirk - I have made the games every year and always had a great day - they do have the funfair there as well, but they are seperated from each other, so only people who pay entry into the games can come in, but everyone is free to use the fun fair - it is a great combination. And, it has been sunny every year so far! Have tried to go to the scribblers picnic as well, but it always seems to rain really badly the day they have it! Talk about a fair weather friend!!!

You must have been very frightened yesterday, have the kids asked any questions about it?

[legend758duo]

Sadly most large towns or cities in scotland suffer from wee drunken neds on a regular basis.I pity the folk of falkirk who obviously have to put up with this crap evaery weekend.I say send the little b@stards to iraq if they want a fight then they can have one.Inbred gimps need putting down.Rant over lol.

[Romeo]

enigma, print out this entire discussion and send copies of it to your local council and to your local paper. Do it without delay, and tell the council that a copy has been sent to the paper. I am saddened by your story, but it's important that those who can take action are informed.