boxing day 2012: Violence and vomiting on last weekend out before Christmas

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Violence and vomiting on last weekend out before Christmas

Violence causes chaos in Newcastle city centre as binge drinkers run riot

All-day drinking benders fueled the carnage

Amazingly, police report 'no issues'

PUBLISHED: 07:36 EST, 22 December 2012 | UPDATED: 07:36 EST, 22 December 2012

Drunken yobs caused carnage as violence descended in cities and towns across Britain on the final weekend before Christmas.

On a day dubbed 'Black eye Friday', there were scenes of chaos as binge-drinking thugs, many fueled by cheap booze, celebrated the festive season by fighting, vomiting and urinating in the street.

There were particularly unsavoury scenes in Newcastle, with one man pictured with his face bloodied and bruised and marred, appropriately, by a black eye.

Battered and bruised: With blood pouring down his face, this reveller is talked to by police officers in Newcastle City Centre

Violent: A brawl breaks out on Black eye Friday in Newcastle, one of several fights reported in the city centre

One too many? A man looks the worse for wear as struggles for support against a van in Newcastle

Grotesque: A man can't wait to use a lavatory as he urinates against a shop window

One too many: A man struggles to hold in vomit while another reveller urinated against a shop window

Publicans reported a roaring trade, with most bars packed from about 1pm as bosses let people leave work early.

David Swaddle, duty manager at the Centurion Bar on Neville Street, said it had been busy but reported no incidents of violence.

He said: 'It has been hectic in here.

Nicked: Blood pouring from his scalp, a man is wrestled to the ground and arrested by a police officer

Animal: Woman crawls on all fours as drunken night takes its toll. Despite the freezing and wet conditions, she appears to have lost her shoes

Strong arm of the law: Another man feels the hot breath of a police officer as he is handcuffed and shoved in the back of a van

'It has been really busy but the atmosphere has been brilliant and really Christmassy.

'It seems like everyone has been having a really good time.

'We have had no trouble whatsoever and we were expecting a few ups and downs.

'We always have extra bouncers on a Friday and Saturday but tonight it has been fine.'

Revellers took to Twitter to sum up the mood.

Busted? A woman appears to have been arrested outside an Indian restaurant near Newcastle's notorious Bigg Market

Left hook: A man gets a punch in as yet another night out ends in violence in Newcastle

Brawl: Three men continue to trade blows on the appropriately-named Black eye Friday

Richard Ayre wrote: 'If you're out in Newcastle for black eye Friday - take care. Merry Christmas.'

And Hollie O'Connell said: 'It's black eye Friday. And in Newcastle that means all day drinking.'

Despite the chaotic scenes in the city centre, Northumbria Police, which deployed hundreds of extra officers, said it had been a relatively peaceful night.

Inspector Helena Barron, said: 'We have matched our resources to meet demand in the city centre.

'There has been no issues and everyone seems to be well spirited.

'We will be monitoring the situation as we do every night.'