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Police called to 'Black Friday' supermarket crowds | Police called to 'Black Friday' supermarket crowds |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police have been called to supermarkets across the UK amid crowd surges as people hunt for "Black Friday" offers. | |
Greater Manchester Police appealed for calm after attending five Tesco stores, making "at least two" arrests, and a Trafford store was closed shortly after the sale began at 00:01 GMT on Friday. | Greater Manchester Police appealed for calm after attending five Tesco stores, making "at least two" arrests, and a Trafford store was closed shortly after the sale began at 00:01 GMT on Friday. |
Police went to three Tesco stores and an Asda in London, and Tesco stores in South Wales and in Glasgow and Dundee. | |
Originating in the US, Black Friday is becoming a major UK shopping day. | Originating in the US, Black Friday is becoming a major UK shopping day. |
Police in Manchester tweeted: "At least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning. Keep calm people!" | Police in Manchester tweeted: "At least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning. Keep calm people!" |
In London, police were called by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton. | In London, police were called by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton. |
Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays and an Asda in Edgware at around midnight. | Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays and an Asda in Edgware at around midnight. |
The Metropolitan Police said officers worked with staff to "ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely", and said no-one had been injured "as a result of the overcrowding". | The Metropolitan Police said officers worked with staff to "ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely", and said no-one had been injured "as a result of the overcrowding". |
Crowd control | |
In South Wales, police said they were called by concerned staff at a number of Tesco stores. | In South Wales, police said they were called by concerned staff at a number of Tesco stores. |
A spokesman said officers were twice called to Tesco in Excelsior Road, Cardiff, just after midnight, when concerns were raised about customer conduct inside the shop. No arrests were made. | A spokesman said officers were twice called to Tesco in Excelsior Road, Cardiff, just after midnight, when concerns were raised about customer conduct inside the shop. No arrests were made. |
Police were called to Tesco at Silverburn in the Pollok area of Glasgow about 11:45 GMT on Thursday after staff reported scuffles among several customers. | |
The store was closed for a period, and footage from the scene shows shoppers shoving each other as they attempt to grab items from trolleys. | |
Police were also called to the Tesco in Kingsway, Dundee, to help with crowd control. | |
Avon and Somerset Police said they were called after scuffles in the queue at Tesco in Brislington, Bristol at about midnight. | |
At about 07:00 GMT on Friday Tesco tweeted that it had "loads" of Black Friday bargains - but that tweet was later deleted. | |
Tesco has not yet responded to BBC requests for a comment. | |
Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the UK. | Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the UK. |
It was brought over by online store Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers noticed the US got the best deals. | It was brought over by online store Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers noticed the US got the best deals. |
Tesco has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in 2014. | Tesco has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in 2014. |
Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff have been laid on in some areas. | Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff have been laid on in some areas. |
Are you shopping for a bargain in the Black Friday sales? Did you attend any of the sales overnight? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | |
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