Officer forced to use pepper spray in religiously aggravated affray, CCTV: Middlesbrough rail station
(TS1 - Wednesday, 4 January, 2012)

Police are trying to identify five men involved in drunken disorder and religious abuse at Middlesbrough station on Saturday, 10 December.

Shortly before 7.45pm on Saturday, 10 December, a BTP officer was called to the station to deal with a group of eight men using abusive language and singing religiously offensive chants.

The officer was surrounded and threatened, but managed to keep the men at bay and handcuff one of them, deploying pepper spray in the process.

When local police officers arrived following an urgent assistance call, they helped disperse the men who left the station.

"This group of men refused to end their abusive behaviour, which was causing considerable alarm to other station users," said PC Andy Ward from BTP Middlesbrough.

"They then became increasingly aggressive and threatening."

Anyone with information on the men pictured in the CCTV stills is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Note: a 31-year-old man from Newton Aycliffe was arrested at the station on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence and remains on police bail until the end of January.

Now police are looking for his accomplices.

Police Force: British Transport Police (BTP)

Address:
Middlesbrough rail station
Station Approach
Middlesbrough
Cleveland
TS1