Police officer hospitalised after mass brawl at Edinburgh Meadows

4 April 2021, 17:50 | Updated: 4 April 2021, 19:30

Officer hospitalised after mass brawl in Edinburgh Meadows

By Joe Cook

Police have accused politicians of "offloading predictable problems" onto them, after a mass brawl in Edinburgh Meadows left an officer hospitalised and three people charged.

Videos posted on social media showed police intervening and wrestling young people to the ground after multiple fights broke out on Saturday evening.

Young men were seen punching each other, with one struck by a bottle as crowds egged them on.

It came after thousands of people gathered in the park on Saturday to enjoy the warm weather as Scotland's stay-at-home order came to an end.

Police Scotland said they were called to multiple incidents over the day and that officers responded quickly "in the face of some blatant anti-social behaviour" by people who "were intent on disorder".

Read more: Crowd of students defies rule of six in Nottingham park before ‘brawl’ breaks out

Read more: 107 people arrested during 'Kill the Bill' protests in London on Saturday

Large crowds gathered in Edinburgh Meadows as Scotland's stay at home order came to an end.
Large crowds gathered in Edinburgh Meadows as Scotland's stay at home order came to an end. Picture: Alex Orr

Three people have been charged in connection with anti-social behaviour and a serious assault, the force said.

A male officer was injured during one of the arrests and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he was treated for a facial injury. He was later discharged.

Police have said officers will be deployed for all upcoming weekends after drunken crowds descended into fighting.
Police have said officers will be deployed for all upcoming weekends after drunken crowds descended into fighting. Picture: Alex Orr

Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor said police were working with the council to create a "zero tolerance" approach, with officers deployed to the Meadows "over Easter and the coming weekends, as a minimum".

Hostilities were 'foreseeable'

The Scottish Police Federation, which represents officers in the country, has accused politicians of "offloading predictable problems" onto the police and said the hostility was "foreseeable".

Read more: 'Arctic winds' will see temperatures plummet on Easter Monday

Read more: Easter celebrations take place around the world amid ongoing Covid restrictions

A large number of police were deployed to Edinburgh Meadows on Saturday.
A large number of police were deployed to Edinburgh Meadows on Saturday. Picture: Alex Orr

Chairman David Hamilton said: "Police officers didn't write these health regulations but for the last year we have been asked to enforce them for the protection of all.

"Public hostilities towards the restrictions were foreseeable and have been growing for some time.

"They have increasingly culminated with some in our society taking out their anger and frustrations on police officers."

He added: "It is simply not good enough that politicians have offloaded these predictable problems onto police officers, especially when they have failed in their responsibility to protect and support those of whom they have asked so much."

Read more: Police break up Good Friday church service for breaching Covid rules

Illegal party leaves Welsh Parliament littered with rubbish

'It doesn't feel safe'

Local Diane Gray, said "hordes of young people" have congregated at the Meadows on recent sunny days.

"I don't blame them for wanting to meet up, just wish they would be more responsible," she said.

Ms Gray said there had been problems with litter, including human waste, broken glass and "drug paraphernalia".

"Personally I am older/restricted mobility and I keep well away on days when it's busy because it doesn't feel safe," she added.

Edinburgh South MP Ian Murrary has called on police, council and government to "resolve the mess, violence, residential streets being used as a toilet and significant impact on local area".

He added: "It's a huge thank you to all the volunteers and council staff who cleaned up the Meadows again last night."

Crowds in Nottingham ignore Rule of Six on first day of lockdown easing

The incidents in Edinburgh follow similar scenes in parks in England earlier in the week.

On Wednesday, two parks in Nottingham were closed and alcohol was banned in the green spaces.

It came after shocking footage emerged of a large crowd of students ignoring social distancing rules and fighting in the Arboretum in Nottingham.

An illegal rave outside the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff also led to arrests after hundreds gathered in an atmosphere described as "like a nightclub".

Read more: Illegal party in Cardiff leaves Welsh Parliament 'littered with rubbish'

Police officers have been seizing alcohol in Nottingham parks

In Edinburgh, investigations are ongoing are ongoing and police have asked "anyone who saw a 22-year-old man being attacked around 7.30pm in the Middle Meadow Walk area and also a 17-year-old man being seriously injured in the park around 6.40pm, to come forward".

Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 1635 of 3 April, 2021. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says