Police Praise Revellers Following ‘Mad Friday’

Thousands of party-goers descended on Wrexham on Friday evening to celebrate the start of the festive period – with only a small number of arrests made throughout the night.

Traditionally the Friday before Christmas is known as ‘Mad Friday’ where pubs, bars and clubs are packed with people celebrating their break-up for the festive period.

Police Officers, PCSO’s and Special Constables were out across the region ensuring any trouble was dealt with quickly and appropriately, so that it didn’t cause an issue for the vast majority of people who were simply out for a good time.

Throughout the evening North Wales Police and North Wales Police Control Room tweeted advice and updates of incidents taking place across the region.

In Wrexham Town Centre Officers tweeted updates to Wrexham.com throughout the night, with only a handful of incidents taking place throughout the evening; including the removal of alcohol from a group of 15-year-olds and a woman being arrested for urinating in the street at 4pm.

Booze removed from 15 year olds in town centre @wrexham #thinksafefrinksafe pic.twitter.com/MFQX7nNYlK

— Insp Paul Wycherley (@NWPPWycherley) December 19, 2014

Clubs and pubs were also ID’ing visitors throughout the evening, with Inspector Paul Wycherley tweeting to remind people not to use their passports as identification, due to the amount that were lost during last year’s ‘Festive Friday’. In Liquid over thirty people were turned away from the club.

Everone age checked b4 entry @liquidenvywrx @wrexham tonight. 30 refused entry #oneteam#thinksafedrinksafe pic.twitter.com/U5dluppiHP

— Insp Paul Wycherley (@NWPPWycherley) December 20, 2014

Across North Wales there were also a number of welfare centres set up across the region, with Wrexham’s welfare centre this year taking place in the Victoria Youth Centre.

This years Xmas welfare centre @wrexham is at the Victoria youth centre Hill St pic.twitter.com/h4v3xOW0Dz

— Insp Paul Wycherley (@NWPPWycherley) December 19, 2014

The benefits of the emergency treatment centre @wrexham staff on scene inside one minute for collapsed male pic.twitter.com/h7Axv0CPG5

— Insp Paul Wycherley (@NWPPWycherley) December 20, 2014

This year officers also wore ‘Body Cameras’ while out patrolling Wrexham, with Otis the drug sniffer dog also taking part in the festive patrol.

All briefed and all ready to go #festivefriday even this little fella is getting in in the act #PolTwt @wrexham pic.twitter.com/uOoQyKC0qb

— NWPWrexhamSpecials (@NWPSpecialSgt) December 19, 2014

Although the numbers of calls to the Police Control Room were higher than normal levels of demand, senior officers said they were pleased with the way the evening had been handled.

Control room staff, who are able to link in to every CCTV operated by local authorities and others across the region, monitored the evening’s events closely whilst linking in with officers and partners on the ground.

Between 5pm on Friday 19th and 7am on Saturday 20th December North Wales Police received 213 ‘999’ calls and 348 non-emergency calls.