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| Black Friday: Fights break out after shoppers queue all night for bargains | Black Friday: Fights break out after shoppers queue all night for bargains |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least three people have been arrested for fighting over Black Friday bargains as huge crowds caused mayhem in shops across the UK. | At least three people have been arrested for fighting over Black Friday bargains as huge crowds caused mayhem in shops across the UK. |
| Many supermarkets put on extra staff to deal with the frenzy starting at midnight but police had to be called to several shoppers worried about the crowds. | Many supermarkets put on extra staff to deal with the frenzy starting at midnight but police had to be called to several shoppers worried about the crowds. |
| Metropolitan Police officers were called to three Tesco stores in London in the early hours of the morning amid fears of confrontations in heated queues. | |
| After attending the 24-hour supermarkets in Edmonton, Willesden and Surrey Quays, a spokesperson said no one had been injured or arrested. | |
| “Officers have worked with store staff to ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely,” he added. | “Officers have worked with store staff to ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely,” he added. |
| Tesco branches in Cardiff and Belfast also reportedly saw scraps as customers came to blows after hours of queuing. | Tesco branches in Cardiff and Belfast also reportedly saw scraps as customers came to blows after hours of queuing. |
| South Wales Police said they attended a supermarket twice with concerns over “customer conduct” and footage of chaotic scenes in Belfast showed people trying to wrestle discounted electrical goods off other shoppers. | South Wales Police said they attended a supermarket twice with concerns over “customer conduct” and footage of chaotic scenes in Belfast showed people trying to wrestle discounted electrical goods off other shoppers. |
| Police in Manchester appealed for calm after arresting two people at Tesco and a branch in Stretford, Trafford, had to be closed just half an hour after opening after fights broke out and a woman was injured by a falling television. | Police in Manchester appealed for calm after arresting two people at Tesco and a branch in Stretford, Trafford, had to be closed just half an hour after opening after fights broke out and a woman was injured by a falling television. |
| A tweet said: "At least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning. Keep calm people!" | A tweet said: "At least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning. Keep calm people!" |
| Elsewhere shoppers described scenes of "carnage" as people scrambled for the best deals. | Elsewhere shoppers described scenes of "carnage" as people scrambled for the best deals. |
| One person who bagged a coffee machine at a knock-down price tweeted: "After the absolute carnage that is black Friday in a tesco extra in the North of England, I walked away with a £100 coffee machine for £30." | One person who bagged a coffee machine at a knock-down price tweeted: "After the absolute carnage that is black Friday in a tesco extra in the North of England, I walked away with a £100 coffee machine for £30." |
| Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, criticised shops for failing to provide enough security, saying the chaos should have been expected. | Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, criticised shops for failing to provide enough security, saying the chaos should have been expected. |
| “The events of last night were totally predictable and I am disappointed that stores did not have sufficient security staff on duty," he added. | “The events of last night were totally predictable and I am disappointed that stores did not have sufficient security staff on duty," he added. |
| “This created situations where we had to deal with crushing, disorder and disputes between customers. | “This created situations where we had to deal with crushing, disorder and disputes between customers. |
| “It does not help that this was in the early hours when police resources are already stretched. | “It does not help that this was in the early hours when police resources are already stretched. |
| “Across Greater Manchester large supermarkets already make significant demands on policing through calls to shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and thefts of fuel from their petrol stations - much of which is preventable. | “Across Greater Manchester large supermarkets already make significant demands on policing through calls to shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and thefts of fuel from their petrol stations - much of which is preventable. |
| “We just ask these stores to work with us to reduce the demands on policing and reduce the risks of disorder and crime.” | “We just ask these stores to work with us to reduce the demands on policing and reduce the risks of disorder and crime.” |
| “Were you caught up in Black Friday chaos? Police called 2 stores. These were the crowds in Port Glasgow pic.twitter.com/HlWfdPGtFd”. HMOF!!! | “Were you caught up in Black Friday chaos? Police called 2 stores. These were the crowds in Port Glasgow pic.twitter.com/HlWfdPGtFd”. HMOF!!! |
| Those hoping to avoid the overnight queues by shopping online were also disappointed when the websites of several major retailers went down with the huge surge in demand. | Those hoping to avoid the overnight queues by shopping online were also disappointed when the websites of several major retailers went down with the huge surge in demand. |
| Argos is one of those limiting visitors, while Curry’s has a queue of at least 20 minutes to get on its site. | Argos is one of those limiting visitors, while Curry’s has a queue of at least 20 minutes to get on its site. |
| Tesco Direct, Game and Topshop were also affected as online shoppers flooded the websites shortly after midnight. | Tesco Direct, Game and Topshop were also affected as online shoppers flooded the websites shortly after midnight. |
| British retailers are increasingly capitalising on the American tradition of Black Friday, which is historically the big sales day that follows the Thanksgiving holiday. | British retailers are increasingly capitalising on the American tradition of Black Friday, which is historically the big sales day that follows the Thanksgiving holiday. |
| It was imported over by Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers complained that US customers got better deals. | It was imported over by Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers complained that US customers got better deals. |
| Click here to view a selection of the best Black Friday offers | |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |