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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Star Wars and Doctor Who fans clash at Norwich convention | Star Wars and Doctor Who fans clash at Norwich convention |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police were called to a science fiction convention after an argument between two rival groups of fans. | Police were called to a science fiction convention after an argument between two rival groups of fans. |
| Trouble flared at the fourth Norwich Sci-Fi and Film Convention at the University of East Anglia, organised by Norwich Star Wars Club. | Trouble flared at the fourth Norwich Sci-Fi and Film Convention at the University of East Anglia, organised by Norwich Star Wars Club. |
| Police were called after members of the rival Norwich Sci-Fi club arrived to get autographs from two Doctor Who actors at the event on Sunday. | Police were called after members of the rival Norwich Sci-Fi club arrived to get autographs from two Doctor Who actors at the event on Sunday. |
| Norfolk Police confirmed officers attended and spoke to both parties. | Norfolk Police confirmed officers attended and spoke to both parties. |
| A spokesman said they had been called to reports of a man being assaulted at the convention. | A spokesman said they had been called to reports of a man being assaulted at the convention. |
| 'Rivalry and disputes' | 'Rivalry and disputes' |
| "After a lengthy investigation, talking to witnesses and reviewing good CCTV footage, it was confirmed that there was no assault," the spokesman said. | "After a lengthy investigation, talking to witnesses and reviewing good CCTV footage, it was confirmed that there was no assault," the spokesman said. |
| "The two rival groups were spoken to and advised to keep out of each other's way." | "The two rival groups were spoken to and advised to keep out of each other's way." |
| Jim Poole, treasurer of Norwich Sci-Fi Club, said there was a history of rivalry and disputes between the two clubs, which both hold their own conventions in the city. | Jim Poole, treasurer of Norwich Sci-Fi Club, said there was a history of rivalry and disputes between the two clubs, which both hold their own conventions in the city. |
| He said he had attended Sunday's event with another club member to get the autographs of actors Graham Cole and Jeremy Bullock for a Doctor Who diary to be auctioned for charity. | He said he had attended Sunday's event with another club member to get the autographs of actors Graham Cole and Jeremy Bullock for a Doctor Who diary to be auctioned for charity. |
| Mr Poole said he was wearing a club top and his fellow member was dressed as the fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison. | Mr Poole said he was wearing a club top and his fellow member was dressed as the fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison. |
| He said once inside the hall, he received verbal abuse from a member of the rival club and called the police. | He said once inside the hall, he received verbal abuse from a member of the rival club and called the police. |
| 'Sad and pathetic' | 'Sad and pathetic' |
| "I was put in a police car. We were both interviewed by the police and told to stay away from each other," he said. | "I was put in a police car. We were both interviewed by the police and told to stay away from each other," he said. |
| Mr Poole said two other members of his club, one dressed as the 10th Doctor and the other as Judge Dredd, had waited outside the venue. | |
| "This wasn't a fight between Star Wars fans and Doctor Who fans with lightsabres and sonic screwdrivers drawn," he said. | "This wasn't a fight between Star Wars fans and Doctor Who fans with lightsabres and sonic screwdrivers drawn," he said. |
| "It's a bit sad and pathetic. We're all in the same boat. We're not in competition. | "It's a bit sad and pathetic. We're all in the same boat. We're not in competition. |
| "We'd like to extend the hand of friendship." | "We'd like to extend the hand of friendship." |
| Mr Poole said his club was considering having uniformed security guards at its own Norwich Sci-Fi Convention in September in case of further trouble. | Mr Poole said his club was considering having uniformed security guards at its own Norwich Sci-Fi Convention in September in case of further trouble. |
| Dominic Warner, secretary of Norwich Star Wars Club, said: "It's been blown up as if it was a fight. There was no fighting." | Dominic Warner, secretary of Norwich Star Wars Club, said: "It's been blown up as if it was a fight. There was no fighting." |
| He acknowledged there had been disputes between club members in the past, but said: "There is no bad feeling between the two clubs. We have never interfered with them. | He acknowledged there had been disputes between club members in the past, but said: "There is no bad feeling between the two clubs. We have never interfered with them. |
| "It does sound comical. People that dress up in costume are labelled geeks and some people laugh at us, and this just makes it even more so." | "It does sound comical. People that dress up in costume are labelled geeks and some people laugh at us, and this just makes it even more so." |
| He said the two clubs were having discussions about a meeting to resolve their differences. | He said the two clubs were having discussions about a meeting to resolve their differences. |